Last Updated on May 1, 2025 8:22 pm
Rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s damage to Ashe County continues, including replacing critical fire and rescue vehicles lost to the flood.
Lansing Volunteer Fire & Rescue lost two fire trucks to Helene, putting the area in danger if fast fire and rescue response is needed. “These were the only four-wheel drive pumper fire trucks we had,” said Chief Jeff Venable, adding that the trucks were under water and flooded.
While one truck is able to be refurbished, the other truck was a total loss from water damage. Furthermore, insurance did not cover the full cost of a new fire truck. In February, Lansing Volunteer Fire & Rescue replaced the damaged truck with a new pumper fire truck, which was purchased with the assistance of a $200,000 loan from Blue Ridge Energy. This is the department’s first new truck, and it will provide decades of service to the community.
“We were able to put down $300,000 of the cost for a new truck,” said Venable, “and we’re very blessed the remaining $200,000 is being covered through a seven year, zero-percent interest rate loan from Blue Ridge Energy’s Revolving Loan Fund,” he said.
“This is a great program provided through Blue Ridge Energy and saves taxpayers thousands of dollars through not having to pay interest on the loan,” Venable added.
Blue Ridge Energy’s revolving loan fund has been accumulated over the years from grants awarded by the government’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program (REDLG). REDLG, which is part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), enables electric cooperatives to support community development projects in their service areas by providing zero-interest loans to qualified entities. Loan funds are repaid over time and then “recycled” to support additional qualifying community development projects.
“Helping ensure emergency response is available in the communities we serve is an important way Blue Ridge Energy seeks to improve quality of life for our members,” said Katie Woodle, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Ridge Energy. “We’re very pleased we can continue helping our service area rebuild and restore after Helene.”
Blue Ridge Energy is an electric cooperative serving some 80,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties and parts of Wilkes, Avery, and Alexander counties. It also includes a propane heating fuels subsidiary and a business-to-business telecommunications subsidiary. Learn more at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com.
l to r: Chief Jeff Venable of Lansing Volunteer Fire & Rescue with Blue Ridge Energy Board members James Young and Cindy Price, Blue Ridge Energy District Manager April Blevins and Blue Ridge Energy Director of Community Relations and Economic Development Tasha Rountree.
