NATCHEZ — Darryl Smith received permission Monday from the Adams County Board of Supervisors to apply for upgraded equipment and training Natchez’s volunteer firemen.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant through FEMA, would provide volunteer firemen in the Liberty Road, Kingston, Lake Montrose and Foster Mound fire departments, with 12 new air tanks used when entering burning structures as well as thermal imaging cameras, which can help firefighters detect hidden hot spots and even people inside a building before firemen enter.

The AFG provides financial assistance to eligible fire departments, emergency medical services and fire training academies across the nation.

Smith, the Adams County Fire Coordinator, said the thermal imaging cameras will serve multiple purposes.

“It detects heat,” he said. “We can use it to locate the source of smoke or to determine where hot spots are.”

The thermal imaging cameras can also locate any bodies still in a structure at an early stage and thus aid in rescue.

A second service the grant would fund is training for the firemen.

“Our volunteers, they are anxious for training,” Smith said. “They put their lives on the line for this county and this will help them stay safe. We have a hardworking group.”

Outside of putting out fires all over the county, Smith said the firemen also give safety trainings in local schools and to fire safety awareness seminars.

Later this month, Smith said the volunteer firemen hoped to organize a fire extinguisher training forum to teach residents how to use their household fire extinguishers.

Outside of group trainings, Smith said the volunteers can run home exit drills with families.

“These guys do a lot for the county,” Smith said. “This will give them something new that will benefit them.”

Smith said he hoped to apply for the grants by the end of the month, since the deadline is Feb. 2, and begin purchasing and employing the new tools as soon as grant funds are received.

Smith said anyone interested in the volunteers’ fire safety training and drills could call him at 601-442-7021.