Fulton has been awarded a $139,945 federal grant that will go toward new radios for the Fulton Fire Department.
"We need them to be able to communicate with other agencies - interoperable communications with other departments and towns," Fire Chief Kevin Coffelt said.
Several years ago, the department received $182,858 from the same grant program, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the Department of Homeland Security, to purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses - the devices firefighters wear to provide breathable air.
The department plans to purchase radios not only for each fire station but also for trucks.
"We need new radios," Coffelt said. "Ours are about 14 years old and are becoming outdated. We've started to not be able to get parts to repair them."
The department frequently looks to grant programs for big purchases like these.
"We've been really successful with grants," Coffelt said.
Grants allow the city to spend local funds on other priorities.
"This frees up that funding," he said.
The department is currently trying out radios.
"We want to make sure we have the right radios to fit our needs," he said.
It will likely begin making purchases by the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
"I really would like to give most of the credit to Gayla Dunn (the city's grant writer)," Coffelt said. "She's a hard worker and she does a lot of work for us."