Fire grant goes to East Helena

The Daily Inter Lake

The Somers/Lakeside fire department suffered a case of mistaken identity last week.

"Lakeside fire department" was listed as a recipient of a $58,000 Homeland Security grant for operations and firefighter safety.

But it's not the volunteer fire department on Flathead Lake that received the money; it's a Lakeside department in East Helena.

Bob Kienas is chief of the Somers fire department that covers Lakeside in Flathead County.

The announcement of the grant caused confusion, because his department is trying to raise money for a new fire engine.

"People wonder why we need their money if we have a grant," Kienas said.

He wants people to know the local department still relies on their donations.

It's not the first time the department has had an identity crisis, Kienas said.

Years ago, Somers fire department was contacted by the Internal Revenue Service about a tax issue that confounded firefighters. It turned out the IRS was looking for a department in New York, Kienas said.

Ferndale fire department near Bigfork will receive about $34,000 in federal grant money.