Tim Leeds Havre Daily News tleeds@havredailynews.com
The Havre Fire Department will soon have some new equipment to provide safety for citizens in the area. Pending acceptance of the grant by the Havre City Council, the fire department soon will have $380,000 to use in the purchase of an aeriel ladder truck to replace the 1973 snorkel truck now used by the department. Montana’s U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg announced in a press release that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal and Emergency Management Agency had awarded the Havre department the grant, along with three other Montana fire departments. “While Havre’s local firefighters work to protect their community, I’ll work to make sure the federal government is at their side,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Congressional Fire Caucus, said in the release. “Helping them upgrade equipment means increased safety for the firefighters and the community.” Havre Assistant Fire Chief Tim Ranes said the grant will help the department in its mission to provide emergency response and emergency care in the area. “Montana has benefited greatly from the firefighters’ grant programs,” Ranes said in the release. “We’ll be replacing an old snorkel, or elevated platform truck, with an aerial ladder truck capable of reaching 75 feet in the air.” The funding comes from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program, which is administered by FEMA and ultimately funded by Rehberg’s committee. The grants help local fire departments and emergency response organizations improve their firstresponse capabilities. For fiscal year 2008, Congress has awarded Montana more than $3.35 million in federal assistance through AFG. Along with Havre, the Montana fire departments received funding in the latest round of grant disbursements Are: Dawson County Rural Fire, Glendive, $16,729 for operations and safety purposes; Musselshell County Volunteer Fire, Roundup, $9,782 for operations and safety purposes; North Toole County Fire, Sunburst, $46,550 for operations and safety purposes. Rehberg said he will continue to work to provide funding for local fire departments and other agencies. “It's critical we ensure our first responders have the resources they need to protect our families and our communities,” he said.
