Falls City volunteers cheer modernization

FALLS CITY – The modernization of the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department has taken giant leaps forward so far in 2021.

Fire Department Public Information Officer Jon McQueen announced a $133,679 Homeland Security grant that culminates a process that was started in 2018.

McQueen: “It’s going to change us drastically by increasing two of our trucks by 10 brand new airpacks with 10 bottles and 10 spare bottles. It’s also going to increase our pressure from 2,216 to 4,500 pounds and we’re going to go from steel, flat bottom bottles to composite bottles that are a lot less weight on a fireman’s back.”

He said the higher pressure in the air tanks will give firefighters more working time in buildings during search and rescue.

The grant,  along with a 5 percent city match, will be used to purchase the self-contained breathing apparatus, as well as a compressed air filling station.

The department had asked the city for $60,000 in 2018 for the air packs, but the grant match will cost the city just under $7,000. The city paid $3,000 for grant writing assistance and the grant will pay half of that cost.

 

Some of the existing airpacks used by the volunteer fire department had been purchased in 1999 and the fill station equipment is 25 years old.

McQueen also had good news about to the 95-foot ladder truck that arrived in the city in January. The truck replaced a 40-year-old truck that had not passed certifications since 2013.

McQueen: “So this year, 2021,  we had the same independent company come and test and the ladder passed and we have a certificate valid for one year now.”

McQueen said the grant funds will help Falls City take a huge step forward in equipment updates.