The Groom Creek Fire District has been applying for grants and funding this year as in the past. We are working on fuels project funding from the Economic Stimulus Package that will provide us the ability to operate a 3 person fuels crew for the next year and beyond. This funding comes without the traditional matching funds requirements and will allow us to provide the fuels reductions services at little or no cost to our residents. Our decision to move away from the grants we had been receiving was made to shore up our financial position as we were looking forward to needing financing capabilities for the new station.
There is funding coming from many sources that we will pursue for our new Fire Stations on Spruce Mountain and new Main Fire Station on Senator Highway and Marapai Road. We have applied for a grant from the US Department of Homeland Security for $1,150,000 for the main station. We should hear more about this application in the summer. We have entered into an agreement with the US Forest Service to provide the space for a Forest Service Engine Crew to work out of our station. This agreement will help us to provide an increased level of wildfire protection to our community. Engine 3-2 has began the process of moving in and will be staffing their engine year-round. Engine 3-2 is a smaller (Type 6) engine with a 5 person crew. Once our new station is built on Senator Highway, we will provide the facilities for this crew at that location.
During our Firewise Day Activities this year, we will be showcasing some of the new equipment we have received from our grants during the past year. We will have demonstrations with vehicle extrication and stabilization, a thermal imaging camera, cardiac monitor and fire extinguishers. If you would like to see how fortunate we have been to receive all of the new equipment and would like to learn how to effectively use a fire extinguisher, please take some time to stop by on April 25th. The demonstrations will begin at 10:00 am.
Lastly, we have begun the budget process for the next fiscal year and encourage you to attend the Board meetings in the next few months if you would like to know how we are appropriating our revenues.