Around the same time the members of the Lodi-Minerva Volunteer Fire Department were working on getting their department off the ground, members of the Red Hills Volunteer Fire Department were doing the same.
Montgomery County Supervisor Keith McGee said volunteers began the process of organizing a volunteer fire department in 2016. For residents of the Red Hills community, the nearest fire department is the Duck Hill Volunteer Fire Department. With the Red Hills community is near the Montgomery County and Grenada County lines, it takes Duck Hill about 10-15 minutes to get to the fire.
McGee said they began the work to start the Red Hills Volunteer Fire Department. He said the land for the department was donated by Jennifer Felker-Rickard and her brother.
“They had a home there, that had burnt and built another home across the road. It’s right between 404 and Duck Hill, and it’s a perfect spot,” McGee said.
He said it doesn’t reach the Alva Community, which is closer to the Montgomery County and Webster County lines.
For those in the living in the Red Hills service area, they will benefit financially on their homeowners’ insurance, due to the improvement in fire rating from increased fire protection.
McGee said the group began having meetings and have been working to secure funding for the building. After the Duck Hill Lions Club decided not to organize the Bogue Creek Festival, the Red Hills Volunteer Fire Department decided to take over the annual festival in Duck Hill.
“Miranda [Dean] and the ladies have done a wonderful job heading that up, along with all of our fundraisers,” McGee said.
He said when the Lodi-Minerva Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $100,000 from the state, Red Hills also applied, and McGee said with the help of Rep. Karl Oliver (R-Winona) the volunteer fire department has been able to secure $100,000 that will go toward building the fire station.
McGee said the Sabougla Volunteer Fire Department in Calhoun County donated a fire truck to the department, and they are now working on the design of their building and turning their plan into something that’s tangible.
