The Daily Inter Lake

Columbia Falls firefighters will be breathing easier in a few months, thanks to a $57,485 grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

With a 5 percent match from the city of Columbia Falls, the Volunteer Fire Department plans to use the Assistance to Firefighters Grant to pay for 12 turnout suits for firefighters to wear on emergency scenes, 10 self-contained breathing units, and some safety training.

It will double the personal protective gear that was bought two or three years ago with firefighter-safety grant money.

Columbia Falls fire Chief Robert Webber said he applied for the grant nearly a year ago when he started working for the city.

He researched needs and costs to complete the safety program begun earlier. Susan Nicosia, business manager for the city of Columbia Falls, provided city information and submitted the grant application.

The grant was approved on their first attempt, Webber said.

It will finish outfitting the department's volunteers. The city now has 22 firefighters, Webber said, with another two applications being processed.

He is contacting distributors for bids, and hopes to have all equipment in hand by July 1, the beginning of the city's fiscal year. Training will occur during the next fiscal year, he said.

The $57,485 grant came from the Homeland Security Office of Grants and Training, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

Two programs were funded with the money - vehicle acquisition, and operations and firefighter safety. The Columbia Falls money falls under the latter program.