North Logan Fire Dept. gets $23,000 grant
North Logan Fire and Rescue Department will be getting new extrication equipment set to aid in rescue operations.
“It’s great because generally we wouldn’t be able to afford to come up with money for that much equipment,” said Kim Arnell, North Logan Fire Department’s public information officer.
The extrication set, also known as the Jaws of Life, includes spreaders, cutters, rams and an air bag system. Fire Chief Jon Keller said these items can be used in traffic accidents, collapsed buildings and other incidences.
This equipment helps spread and cut medal, role vehicle dashboards and stabilize situations. Arnell said this will also improve the safety of the firefighters and increase the speed of rescue missions.
“Basically, because you need to get in a vehicle in a hurry, you want a cutter that can get you into a lot of metal, and then you will be able to get patients out a lot quicker,” Arnell said.
The department hopes to have the new set implemented by spring, Keller said.
North Logan Mayor Cary Watkins said the Fire and Rescue Department serves nearly 8,000 people in North Logan. With a population that grows an average of three percent each year, he said they are also seeing an increase in fire calls. In the last year, Watkins said there were approximately 430 calls. On average, this number goes up by 100 each year.
However, North Logan Fire and Rescue also assists other departments within Cache Valley when called upon. Watkins said it is important to understand that all will benefit from the grant they received.
“Even though it is for fire protection from North Logan, we are really looking at fire protection area-wide because we have an agreement to help each other,” Watkins said. “This is a terrific benefit we never could have had before.”
Keller agreed and said while he hopes the equipment never is needed, it will be available to citizens within the area.
“We are happy. This is going to help us protect the citizens of Cache Valley a lot better. This doesn’t just help North Logan. It helps Smithfield, Logan and all other departments in the area,” Keller said.
He said this is the third federal fire grant the department has received.
“We would have an extremely difficult time without this. We depend on grant money,” Watkins said. “This is a very vital element of revenue to support the community and maintain and support the fire department.”
Arnell said the department applied for this grant a year ago.
The U.S. Fire Administration’s Fire Operation and Firefighter Safety Program also gave two other Utah fire departments federal grants.
U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah announced earlier this month that the Laketown Fire District and Uintah Fire Department were also recipients of federal grants that totaled $281,034.
When announcing the beneficiaries of the grants, Bennett said, “Firefighters play a vital role in the safety and protection of our local communities. I am pleased this funding will go to these hard-working men and women and provide them with the best possible training and equipment to effectively do their jobs and protect Utah families.”
-ariek@cc.usu.edu