Fire district gets grant for tablets

The Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District plans to utilize technology to help them battle blazes, thanks to an FM Global grant of $2,494.

Staff members of FM Global, a mutual insurance company, presented Chief James Russell an award certificate representing the funds given to the firehouse last week. Russell will use the fire prevention grant money to buy four computer tablets, which will help them collect information in the district's area of responsibility on such things as road access, water resources, emergency evacuation routes, safety zones, helicopter landing areas, and hazards such as pipelines and power lines.

Because the tablets are mobile, firefighters can look over resources of the area while en route, which would save valuable time, according to Russell, who's been a firefighter for nine years and the district fire chief for three years.

The information will be incorporated as an overlay on a typographical map on the computer and can be shared with other local agencies, such as the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the U.S. Forest Service. "There are a lot of homes out there in heavy timber areas and that can be dangerous if we don't know what access we have in and out of the area," said Russell, who wrote the grant application last November. He added that knowing the resources of the area could mean the difference of stopping a wildfire sooner and saving a home.

"We have lived without them, but they will greatly increase our ability to gather critical pre-incident information and utilize or share it during an incident. They will put information in our hands that could help us save lives or property," said Russell, who was excited when he found out they were approved in February. 

A portion of his crew already knows how to use the tablets, but Russell plans to have additional training. The district has received funds from several grants over the last two years, which has enabled the district to purchase structure rated helmets, gloves, boots, hoses, a water cannon, hazardous material gear, and radios. Russell is applying for a federal grant in order to buy new structural fire turnout gear and SCBA's (self-contained breathing apparatus).

Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District has an annual budget of about $65,000 and without the grants, they would be limited. "Because fire continues to be the leading cause of property damage worldwide, during the past 40 years FM Global has contributed millions of dollars in fire prevention grants to fire service organizations around the globe," said Michael Spaziani, assistant vice president of FM Global, which approved grants for three Montana fire departments last year.

"At FM Global, we strongly believe the majority of property damage is preventable, not inevitable," said Spaziani, who is also manager of the fire prevention grant program. "Far too often, inadequate budgets prevent those organizations working to prevent fire from being as proactive as they would like to be. With additional financial support, grant recipients are actively helping to improve property risk in the communities they serve," he added.

The Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District also conducts several fundraisers throughout the year, but Russell said those funds are normally used for some type of community cause, such as helping the Plains Lions Club raise money for the town wading pool and for the Junior Firefighter Scholarship Fund. District has also helped financially with kids with cancer, said Russell.

"We try to support the community and then raise equipment money from contracting water tenders on wildfires, state and federal grants, and private corporations that donate money to fire services," the chief said. The district has 22 firefighters, including one junior firefighter, on the roster and is responsible for 61.4 square miles – 39,296 acres – but Russell said they would welcome additional recruits. "If someone wants to selflessly serve their community, we are a place for them to contribute," Russell said.