By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent
The Lake Monticello Community Foundation has given $2,000 to help equip local firefighters to escape fires that suddenly turn deadly.
The gift to Lake Monticello Volunteer Fire & Rescue Inc. (LMVRS) is one of several the Foundation is making. LMVRS is working to equip all its fire personnel with personal bailout systems, which would allow them to safely escape from an upper floor window in an emergency, said LMVRS Vice President John Lye.
“This is a safety issue, and we value the safety of all our firefighters,” Lye said. He said upper floor escapes are becoming more of an issue here because a growing number of buildings in and around the Lake are multistory. The Lake Monticello Fire Department is believed to be the first in central Virginia to equip all its firefighters with personal bailout systems.
