District 14 gets new truck

The Colton/Uniontown fire district will soon acquire a new water tender with a $490,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

The county’s southern-most fire district, District 14, hopes to have the 3,500-gallon water tender on line by this summer.

District 14 fire fighters learned they had been awarded the grant Jan. 28. Part of the grant guidelines require the district to put up $10,000 of its own funds, as it is a matched grant.

The district covers 150 square miles, which includes Colton, Uniontown and county property down to the Snake River.

Two attack engines, two structure engines and four brush trucks make up the district’s fire fighting vehicles.

For many years the district has used a 1980s army-style water tender with a 5,000-gallon tank.

Fire Chief Jim Dahmen said that vehicle was in need of replacing.

During the fire season, Dahmen said his district responds to up to five calls for fires a month. Most of those are bush fires.

Next step for the district is ordering their special water tender truck. Dahmen said they hope to have their order into the department soon. They are planning on having the truck bought and ready for the road by next summer.