Three local volunteer fire departments received grants from the N.C. Department of Insurance this month.

The awards from the 2009 Volunteer Fire Department Fund included $7,267 to the Pinetops Volunteer Fire Department, $6,093 to the Macclesfield Rural Volunteer Fire Department and $4,511 to the Leggett Volunteer Fire Department. The grant amounts match those raised by the departments and are used to purchase various equipment, which includes turnout gear, oxygen tanks, stronger fire hose, as well as radios for fire vehicles.

In the award letters to the departments, state Department of Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal Wayne Goodwin thanked Pinetops Chief Steve Burress, Macclesfield Chief Kenneth Wooten and Leggett Chief Mike Shearin "for all of your hard work and thanks to your dedicated staff."

Since the fund was created in 1988 by the General Assembly, Pinetops has been awarded $181,577, Leggett has been awarded $125,496, and Macclesfield with $65,582.

"Fire and rescue organizations protect our communities large and small across North Carolina, but sometimes their budgets don't grow with their responsibilities," Goodwin said.

"Our emergency service personnel should be supported with the best equipment and supplies needed to do their jobs correctly and safely."