Bobcat purchased from grant funds used to assist with debris fire in North Powder
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Friday, March 1st, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
NORTH POWDER — Thanks to the use of a piece of equipment obtained with a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction (CWRR) Grant, North Powder Firefighters were able to make quick work out of containing a smoldering debris pile early yesterday morning. According to crew members with the North Powder Rural Fire Protection District, the debris pile was started a couple of days ago but high winds reignited the pile. Firefights were able to use a bobcat, purchased with CWRR grant funds, to move debris around and extinguish the reignition. It was noted that if the wind had shifted in a different direction, the fire could have easily spread to a large grass field with houses on the other side.
The grant was announced in May 2023 and at that time, Chief Colby Thompson with North Powder Rural Fire Protection District noted that the funds would be used to purchase new equipment to aid with creating defensible space around homes. The bobcat used during this recent incident was purchased with those grant funds.
