Newton County Fire Service has been awarded the Chesney Fallen Firefighters Memorial Grant Award by the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation.

The grant is for $2,826 and will be used to support local fire safety and burn prevention efforts in Newton County.

Newton Fire Service said it plans to purchase lithium battery smoke alarms to be installed in local residential homes.

"We are excited to be allowed this opportunity to continue to protect and serve our community against fire hazards," said Newton County Fire Service Lieutenant Cydnie Taylor-Ridling. "This organization does so many things for the fire department and burn victims in Georgia."

The grant is named after Brant Chesney, a Gwinnett County firefighter who died battling a fire for the Forsyth County Fire Department on Dec. 27, 1996. The grant is offered to fire departments in Georgia to help develop new programs or enhance existing programs targeted at fire safety and burn prevention.