[StBernard] Katrina bells help local firefighters

[Westley Annis]

Katrina bells help local firefighters 

09:32 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Bill Capo / Eyewitness News 

At Engine 9 on Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans firefighters are checking the
inventory of Remembering Katrina Bells they received for this year. The new
design is in silver and black. And they are looking forward to meet the
people they serve when they come to the station or to other New Orleans Fire
Stations to buy them. 

"It gives the public a chance to come into the firehouse and see the firemen
work, and visit the fire house. Don't forget, they own the firehouse, and
that fire engine and pay the firemen's salaries," New Orleans Fire Chief
Charles Parent. 

The bells are available for a three-dollar donation, and the New Orleans
Fire Department uses the proceeds in two ways. 

"Half of the money goes to the engine house that sells the bell," Parent
said, "and they use it for simple things like paying for the telephone,
buying food. They may put a meal on with it. And we use the other half for
usually public service. We buy smoke detectors, we buy Halloween candy." 

In Plaquemines Parish, the public school system uses Katrina Bell funds to
help families recovering from Hurricane Katrina. 

"We're going to use the money for scholarships to enable the students to
pursue interest in college," Denis Rousselle, Plaquemines Parish
Superintendent 

St. Tammany Parish firefighters want to use Katrina Bell proceeds for the
summer camp they sponsor, and EMS training. 

Jefferson Parish firefighters say people started asking about the bells a
month ago, and the funds raised will help during the worst times. 

"We're going to give all of the proceeds to the Jefferson Parish
Firefighters Tragedy Fund," George Rigamer, a Jefferson Parish firefighter.
We have a fund that takes care of our people in the interim that the
insurance takes to pick up.")) 

And St. Bernard Parish firefighters say their college scholarship program
has become very well liked. 

"We did four scholarships this year, $500 apiece," said St. Bernard Deputy
Fire Chief Brien Ruiz 

Over the years, you could have assembled quite a collection of all the bells
that have been available. But if you want one of the bells this year, you
had better act quickly because there are only 15,000 available. 

You can join the bell ringing ceremonies August 29, at City Park, Chalmette
High School, Lafreniere Park, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Slidell and
Belle Chasse High School. But firefighters say your support of the program
means a lot to them. 

"It means a lot, that the people haven't forgotten us," Ruiz said. 

"It's great for the morale of my guys," said Parent. "Every year you can see
it pick up, and it gets a little competitive. Everybody wants to sell more
bells than the next firehouse."