Volunteer Fire Department awarded assistance towards critical safety equipment.
On September 12, Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety program awarded $28,660 in grants supporting community safety projects proposed by six local nonprofit organizations.
Chris Kennedy presented on behalf of Friends of the Ferndale MT Fire Department, which requested assistance in purchasing a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) system and replacing outdated battery packs for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBAs), more commonly referred to as oxygen tanks.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 2-4 SCBAs, filled and ready for immediate use at all times, in all 4 of its fire vehicles. Kenny shared, “However, the batteries that power the SCBAs are old and do not retain the necessary charge. They need to be updated for the safety of the volunteer firefighters.”
The Roundup for Safety Board noted with gratitude the critical fire and EMS services provided by the Ferndale VFD, including its mutual aid agreement with the Bigfork Fire Department. Friends of the Ferndale MT Fire Department was awarded $12,000 to support this impactful community safety project.
September grantees also include:
- Flathead Valley Hockey Association (flatheadflames.org)– 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
- Northwest Montana Historical Society – boiler emergency shutoff switches — $975
Roundup for Safety funding comes from participating Flathead Electric Cooperatives 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.
Roundup for Safety is a voluntary program for Co-op members who round up their electric bills to the next dollar. This money is managed by an independent board and goes into a fund for community safety projects. If your nonprofit is interested in applying for community safety funds, visit our Roundup for Safety page or call the Roundup for Safety Board Liaison:
Dillon Tabish
Communications & Marketing Supervisor
