THEBES LOOKING FOR NEW, FLOOD-FREE FIRE HOUSE

THEBES, Ill. -- The Thebes Fire Department is looking for higher ground for its fire house.

The fire station is currently located "under the hill," said Bobbye Shafer, mayor of this small community located along the Mississippi River.

During three of past seven years, the fire department has had to move its equipment to higher grand during flooding.

During heavy flooding, as much as three to four feet of water gets into the fire house.

"We're looking for a new site on top of the hill," said Shafer. "Hopefully, we can expand the size, too."

A $20,000 state grant will help in purchase of land and planning for new building.

Thebes has three vehicles, and the volunteer staff varies from nine to 13 men, said fire chief Fred Petzoldt.

"We have two pumper trucks and a pickup truck we call a brush buggy," said Petzoldt. "A pumper rig has also been installed on the pickup."

The vehicles are kept at different sites, said Petzoldt. "We'd like to build the new firehouse large enough to keep all vehicles at the fire house."

Illinois State Rep. Jim Fowler (D-Harrisburg), announced the approval of the grant recently. The grant, he said, was one of about 70 fire department grants included in the state budget.

"One of my top priorities is to fight for Southern Illinois' fair share in the state budget," said Fowler, "This grant for Thebes was part of that effort."

Fowler visited the Thebes fire house and discussed the possibilities of a grant with Petzoldt and other firemen.

The grant will be used to purchase property and plan for the new fire house, said Shafer.

"By improving our volunteer fire department, we can help the entire community," said Shafer. "Better equipment will eventually mean lower insurance rates, which is important to our local taxpayers."

Shafer said additional funds would be necessary to build the new facility.

"We'll be looking at some sort of pre-fab building," she said. "We won't know the entire cost until we get some bids,"

Over the past year, towns and communities in Alexander County -- including Tamms, McClure, Tamms, Olive Branch have received $307,500 in fire department grants.