Sam Owen FD receives grant

HOPE — The Sam Owen Fire District, which provides fire protection for the Hope Peninsula and the Denton Road corridor, has received a grant for $147,000 to acquire a 1,800-gallon water tender. The grant was awarded under the 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"This is great news for our volunteers and our residents," said Bob Wathen, Sam Owen Fire District chief.

"While our district is surrounded by water we don't have fire hydrants or good access to the water for fighting fires. This new tender will greatly improve our ability to fight fires."

In addition to being an added resource for the Sam Owen Fire District, SOFD commissioner George Gow said the new tender will improve fire protection all along the east side of Lake Pend Oreille.

The Sam Owen Fire District works closely with both the Clark Fork and Hope/East Hope Fire Departments and this new tender strengthens the support to their firefighting efforts.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program assists local fire departments to purchase firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire education and prevention program throughout the United States.

"The Assistance to Firefighters Grants ensures that the nation's firefighters continue to have the basic capability they require to do their jobs, improve safety and save lives," said David Paulison, administrator of Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Fire Administration.