The Ethan Rural Fire Protection District recently accepted a $2000 Operation Round-Up grant from Central Electric Cooperative to help purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs). Emergency responders use SCBAs to enter structure fires, collapsed buildings or confined spaces where air quality is compromised.
“When the fire department has up-to-date equipment, it benefits the community as a whole,” Betsy Raymond, Ethan Rural Fire Protection District treasurer, explained in the grant application. “We are working to replace outdated tanks and masks that can no longer be repaired. Our fire department is volunteer-based, and their safety is our priority.”
Ethan Rural Fire Protection District covers approximately 284 square miles in southeast Davison County and southwest Hanson County, and the Ethan Fire Department serves as second call to assist the Mitchell Fire Department.
Jeff Gustafson of rural Ethan represents Davison County on the Central Electric board of directors. He said, “The Ethan Volunteer Fire Department epitomizes what this grant program is all about. They give up their time and energy to provide safety for the community of Ethan and others. We appreciate all they do for the community and hope that the grant will help them in their endeavor.”
Operation Round-Up is a voluntary program in which Central Electric members round up their monthly statement to the next whole dollar, and the extra cents accumulate to support local projects. The next grant application deadline is Nov. 1. For more information about the program, call 605-996-7516 or visit www.centralec.coop and click on member programs.