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On Monday morning, the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce presented a check to the First Responders Crisis Relief Fund for funds raised during the 2022 Valor Awards.

LaGrange Fire Chief John Brant accepted the check for $500 on behalf of the fund, which was created to support all first responders in Troup County who are in need, especially due to injuries sustained during an emergency response.

The fund was created after six LaGrange firefighters were injured on the job during a house fire on Labor Day in 2018. Four of the firefighters were seriously injured during the incident and one of the firefighters spent more than a year in recovery.

Even though the city covered their medical bills, Brant said the firefighters still needed money because they couldn’t work.

All of the firefighters have since recovered, but the fund was created to offset the financial strain created when other first responders are injured on the job.

The $500 was raised during the chamber’s annual Valor awards in September. During the event, two first responder-themed paintings created by local artist JYEmeryArt were raffled off to raise the funds.

The fundraiser is one of several fundraisers for the First Responders Crisis Relief Fund. Sgt. Matt Oubre of the LaGrange Fire Department is currently working to help organize the third annual First Responder Rodeo, which is expected to return in the spring.

“The crisis fund has already helped several firefighters, police officers and marshals,” Brant said. “This is appreciated by all public safety agencies in the county.”

Representatives from the LaGrange Fire Department, LaGrange Police Department and the Troup County Fire Department were joined by chamber leaders for the check presentation.