Grants to benefit firefighters

Area fire departments or their unions have been awarded grant funds from the firefighter license plate sales proceeds through the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association.

Timberlake, which covers the Bayview and Athol areas, was awarded $808 to go toward photography equipment that will be used to record and distribute training and public education activities to both the public and district personnel.

Northern Lakes, which serves Hayden, Hayden Lake and Rathdrum, received $550 to go toward a video camera for use in training and education efforts.

The firefighter union of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, which covers Post Falls, Stateline, Huetter, Fernan Village and Dalton Gardens, received $900 for public education materials.

About $50,000 was awarded to nearly 70 departments statewide this year. In the 11 years of the program, about $500,000 has been distributed for fire safety education.

In another program, Timberlake received a grant to pay for a portable extrication tool that helps responders gain access to vehicles for patient care. The grant pays for the $9,280 cost of the tool.

The grant is through the Idaho Transportation Department's Office of Highway Safety.