Engine ready, government not; shutdown idles Dawson fire truck

A brand-new fire truck purchased to strengthen emergency response in Dawson is sitting unused — not because of mechanical problems or training delays, but because a partial federal government shutdown has stalled the final steps of the FEMA grant that paid for it. File Photo

DAWSON — A brand-new fire truck purchased to strengthen emergency response in Dawson is sitting unused — not because of mechanical problems or training delays, but because a partial federal government shutdown has stalled the final steps of the FEMA grant that paid for it.

The truck was purchased through an Assistance to Firefighters Grant, part of FEMA’s Preparedness Grant Program, which helps communities mitigate high-consequence disasters and emergencies. The program funds critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel, enhance operational efficiency and strengthen community resilience. Vehicle acquisitions are among the eligible uses under the program. Terrell County Fire Chief Edward Harvey applied for the grant in 2023, and the department was awarded $452,380 in 2024 to fund the new apparatus.

Although the vehicle has already been delivered to the department, Harvey said it cannot be placed into service until FEMA completes the final administrative steps required to activate the grant. With portions of the federal government affected by the partial shutdown, those approvals have been delayed.

Until the process is completed, firefighters must continue relying on their current apparatus while the new truck remains parked and unavailable for emergency calls.

Harvey said the truck’s journey to Dawson was completed earlier this year after the final stages of construction were finished at a manufacturing facility in north Georgia.

“Our vehicle dealer, if you will, is in north Georgia, near Athens,” Harvey said. “When they got through with their part of the build process they drove it all the way to Winder to the plant there, and they finished completely building the truck.”

But the timing of its arrival created an unexpected complication.

“Unfortunately, the day they delivered it to us, on the 17th of February, it was the same day as the partial federal government shutdown,” Harvey said. “So now it’s locked away in our building. We can’t use it at all.”

Before the vehicle can officially enter service, the grant must be finalized and FEMA must complete the required review confirming that the purchase complies with federal procurement and grant requirements.

Efforts to obtain clarification from FEMA about the delay were met with an automated response tied to the shutdown.

“Due to the lapse in federal government funding, this email inbox may not be actively monitored at this time,” the agency’s message states. “As a result, we may be unable to respond to your message, or there may be a delay in our response due to the high volume of inquiries.” 

While FEMA disaster response operations continue during a shutdown, some administrative functions tied to grant management can slow or temporarily pause if staff responsible for reviewing and approving grant documentation are furloughed.

For smaller communities such as Dawson, federal programs often play a critical role in allowing local fire departments to purchase large pieces of equipment that would otherwise strain municipal budgets. Fire trucks can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters grant programs are designed to help departments modernize fleets and improve emergency response capabilities.

Harvey said he has attempted to seek assistance in resolving the delay.

“I’ve reached out to Congressman (Sanford) Bishop’s office a few times to see if he can help us move the last few steps of the grant process along,” Harvey said. “But he gets the same message that I get when I go on the FEMA site.”

Until the federal grant process resumes and the final approvals are completed, the new truck will remain parked at the fire department, ready but unavailable for service.

“Unless you know anybody in Washington, D.C., there’s not much we can do,” Harvey said.

For now, Dawson’s newest fire engine remains stuck in park inside the station — fully built, fully equipped and waiting for the federal paperwork that will finally put it in gear.