BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) - A luncheon was held Friday at the Ron Ramsey Regional Agriculture Center to recognize fire departments and rescue squads across six counties in Northeast Tennessee.

Sullivan, Johnson, Hawkins, Carter, Washington and Unicoi counties were honored by local legislators and presented with grant checks for each department.

Kevin Walters, spokesman of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and the state Fire Marshals' office, said the money will be set aside to help volunteer fire departments buy equipment.

"We want to keep those members safe as they go out to serve their communities because they're the ones who are on the front line whenever there is a fire or an emergency," said Walters. "They're the ones who run toward the danger, and they ought to ha

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