FEC Roundup for Safety awards grants
Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety program has awarded $28,660 in grants supporting community safety projects proposed by six local nonprofit organizations.
Chris Kennedy presented to the programs board on behalf of Friends of the Ferndale MT Fire Department, which requested assistance in purchasing a Rapid Intervention Team system and replacing outdated battery packs for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses, more commonly referred to as oxygen tanks.
“The RIT system is a crucial life-saving safety device that provides the fire department with immediate access to necessary tools to free a trapped firefighter, as well as provide a secondary source of air for the firefighter and/or fire victims,” Kennedy informed the Board. The Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department has two to four SCBAs filled and ready for immediate use at all times, in all four of its fire vehicles.
“However, the batteries that power the SCBAs are old and do not retain the necessary charge,” Kennedy said. “They need to be updated for the safety of the volunteer firefighters.”
The Roundup for Safety Board noted the critical fire and EMS services provided by the Ferndale VFD, including its mutual aid agreement with the Bigfork Fire Department, with gratitude. Friends of the Ferndale MT Fire Department was awarded $12,000 in support of this impactful community safety project.
September grantees also include: Flathead Valley Hockey Association – neck guards - $1,000; Kalispell Middle School – safety buckets & AED - $3,300; Lincoln County CASA – background and child welfare checks - $2,385; Flathead County Sheriff’s Posse – AEDs - $9,000; and Northwest Montana Historical Society – boiler emergency shutoff switches - $975.
Roundup for Safety funding comes from participating Flathead Electric Cooperative members who allow their monthly electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar. The program costs each member about $6 per year and has provided over $5 million in funding since 1997. To learn more, visit https://www.flatheadelectric.com/our-community/roundup-for-safety/