Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
ADT's Bob Tucker, left, presents a $10,000 check to Malden Fire Chief Chad Fanara.
MALDEN-Like most of the town, the fire station here was burned down during the Babb Creek Fire on Monday Sept. 7, Labor Day.
About three months later, on Sunday, Dec. 6, the station received a $10,000 check from security company ADT to help with rebuilding.
ADT Director of Corporate Affairs Bob Tucker presented the check to volunteer Fire Chief Chad Fanara to help rebuild the fire station, which will in turn helps support the department's 6-10 volunteers.
"Any donations at this point are great because without them, I don't know how we're going to do it," Fanara said.
Tucker said ADT heard about the need in town in October.
He reached out to interim mayor Dan Harwood in November to inform him of the gift.
"We work closely with the National Volunteer Firefighter Council, which represents about 70% of all firefighters," Tucker said. "They identified this fire department as being one in need...
"We believe strongly in supporting first responders, because we're in home security and business security."
Harwood, who was sworn in as interim mayor Dec. 6, said the gift was amazing. He added that is humbled and honored that Malden was receiving the gift.
"There's just not enough words to really express what this means to us," Harwood said. "This will help fill in the gaps that you never think of."
Whitman County Fire District No. 7 firefighters, Rosalia Fire Department firefighters, Malden locals and 9th Legislative District Representative Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, were all present for the check presentation outside the temporary town hall, constructed of trailers and tents.
"(The gift) is awesome. It's seed money they can use to get their feet back under them," said Bill Tensfeld, District No. 7 Chief. "They can get new equipment, a new fire station."
ADT's gift wasn't the only one Malden will be receiving this month.
The state Department of Natural Resources will present the town a new brush truck Dec. 17.
Drew Lawson is a reporter and sports writer for Free Press Publishing, including the Cheney Free Press and Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
Reader Comments(0)