GCFD receives over $78K in grants

POMEROY-The Garfield County Fire District No. 1 Commissioners (GCFD) discussed grants received as well as possibilities for expanding the training room and crew quarters at their meeting on April 11.

The GCFD received a grant from Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response of $73,700, over a period of four years, to pay for volunteer recruitment efforts including professional videos and theatrical showings and 10 sets of new turnouts.

The district also received $5,250 from the Garfield County Ambulance Fund that will be used to purchase three suction units and to replace an AED Pro in the ambulance. The Garfield County Public Health District and South East Washington Alliance for Health provided two AED Plus units, in the estimated value of $3,135, which have been placed in Engine 11 and Rescue 6. $554 was received from the Washington State Department of Health as an annual State Trauma Grant and will be used from emergency medical services supplies, and $299.70 was received from the Blue Mountain Community Foundation program Valley Giving Guide.

Pending legislation that may provide funding for fire station construction and modification caused discussion over possibilities open to the district for expanding their training room and crew's quarters. Ideas that were discussed included additions to the back of the office building, as well as building a new structure.