Volunteer fire department earns money for new equipment

The Ucon Fire Department is a volunteer fire department with a crew of 16 people. The department has been around since 1911. Recently, the Fire Department was able to pay for new equipment with funds obtained from fundraising and fighting fires.

The Fire Department was able to fight wildland fires, working with the BLM and the Forest Service. They also helped assist in fires in Challis and other local fires.

When they fight federal fires, the station gets paid hourly as a cooperator.

“With that money, we were able to purchase things we haven’t been able to purchase for a long time, like hoses, fittings on the tables,” said Fire Chief Scott Norman. “So it’s just things that we can’t purchase on such a small budget that we have. It’s helping the community and it’s helping the guys. It’s been a lot of fun this year.”

In August, the Fire Department was able to get a new structure firetruck. The city traded in the old one and got a good deal from Holst Truck Parts.

Ucon Mayor, Craig Sturman said that the Fire’ Department’s new equipment was obtained at “little or no cost to the city.”