Fire fighters use $1,500 grant to promote safety

The Kootenai County chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters is pushing for greater fire safety education, and the organization is using new funding to help its mission.

Local 2856 was awarded a 2019 Idaho Fire Fighter License Plate Grant to help fund fire safety education. The group used the $1,500 to purchase educational merchandise and supplies that focus on both testing smoke alarms and the “Close Before You Doze” campaign.

“Close Before You Doze” is part of the Close Your Door initiative, which emphasizes closing bedroom doors, the result of which can lead to a dramatic difference in hallway temperatures and bedroom temperatures in the event of a fire.

“The generosity of the Idaho Fire Fighter License Plate Grant has enabled our organization to purchase over 2,000 wristbands, 1,000 pens, 250 plastic footballs and 5,000 temporary tattoos with the fire safety messages,” said Pete Holley, president of Local 2856. “These funds will enable Kootenai County Fire Fighters to continue to spread up-to-date fire safety information to the children and citizens we serve in North Idaho.”