Northside Fire awarded SAFER grant

PONDERAY — Things will be a little SAFER in the Northside Fire District thanks to a $697,404 grant to increase staffing in the district.

Northside Fire officials announced this week that the Ponderay-based fire has been awarded the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant, aimed at increasing the safety of firefighters and the public during calls for service. The district's board of commissioners voted unanimously to accept the grant at its Aug. 21 meeting.

The grant funding will allow Northside Fire to hire three additional firefighters, adding one per shift, for three years at no additional cost to the district, Connor Robinson, Northside public information officer, said.