The Washington State Department of Health Injury and Violence Prevention Program recently announced that the Fire Safe Families Project grant application submitted by Fire Districts 3 and 4 had been selected for an award valued at $3,000.  The districts will receive up to 300 lithium smoke alarms, fire prevention brochures and educational materials for distribution, technical assistance with planning, implementation, and evaluation of the project including site visits and conference calls. The alarms are to be installed in residences (homes or apartments) needing fire protection through the use of an alarm.  Community partners that will assist with this project include all participants in the Pend Oreille Fire and Life Safety Cooperative.

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $8,785 for four years to Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3, which will go to “uniform incentives,” fire chief Mark Havener said.  Fire District No. 3’s grant is one out of eight Staffing-for-Adequate-Fire-and-Emergency-Response (SAFER) grants to Washington fire departments. The goal of SAFER grants is to enhance a local fire district’s abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards. For the volunteers of Fire District No. 3, the grant will purchase uniform pants, shirts, and winter sweatshirts with the district’s insignia. The uniforms will be purchased for new members who have achieved good standing by participating or responding to calls.

DIAMOND LAKE – On Friday, November 3, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded a $69,020 an Assistance to Firefighters SAFER Grant program award to the Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 for Firefighter Recruitment and Retention activities over the next four years.