Joseph Fire Dept. Receives $16,000 Grant for Water Rescues
By Joe Hathaway on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
JOSEPH- (Release by Friends of Joseph FireFighters-Joseph Fire Department) Joseph Fire Department/Friends of Joseph Fire is getting a boost in their response to help those in our community and those who visit our county, thanks to a Wildhorse Foundation grant.
Wallowa county has several very popular bodies of water one being Wallowa Lake that is in the Joseph Fire Department’s (JFD) service area and thousands of people visit the lake each year all year long. JFD have been on several calls for people in the lake from summertime to winter when people walk on the ice. Underwater rescue is something that no local or nearby departments were able to do, and a call would have to go out for a team to come from over 3 hours away to assist the JFD on calls. That time is not lifesaving when seconds matter. JFD now can serve the need if one arises to rescue with a scuba rescue team.
THANKS TO Wildhorse Foundation for awarding a grant to JFD in the amount of $16,000 for their Scuba Training/supplies project this was just a portion of the total amount needed which is $39,000 in which the JFD are still seeking donations for the overage.
The Wildhorse Foundation donates over $1 million every year to local programs and services that benefit our giving area. Wildhorse Foundation funds projects in the areas of the Arts, Cultural Activities, Education, Environmental Protection, Gambling Addiction Prevention, Education and Treatment, Historic Preservation, Public Health, Public Safety and Salmon Restoration. Over 1500 organizations have received project funding from the Wildhorse Foundation.
The Wildhorse foundation is managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in partnership with Wildhorse Resort and Casino.
Joseph Fire Department has served the community of Joseph and the surrounding areas with their volunteers since 1888. However, with the growing populations and increase of visitors to the small rural community the need of the department is growing. The JFD is made up of 19 volunteers that serve the community in EMS calls, to fire and rescue, donating their time to community services projects like “Fill the Fire Truck” to being at the Trunk or Treating in Joseph on Main Street or the Joseph airport for the Wallowa County Fly In. Learn more about Joseph Fire Department on their Facebook page Joseph Fire Department.
If you would like to support the department donations can be made directly to Friends of Joseph Fire Fighters at any branch of Community Bank and is a tax donation.
