SWEET HOME, Ore. – Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District has secured two significant grants aimed at enhancing wildfire defense and firefighter health, district officials said.
Fire district officials said that they partnered with the Linn Wildfire Mitigation Group to secure an $8,711,040 Community Wildfire Defense Grant from the U.S. Forest Service. Of this, Sweet Home Fire will receive $5,343,087. This funding will support a five-year project focusing on wildfire defense strategies, including a coordinated effort to reduce wildfire fuels and educate the community.
Wildland Division Chief Christian Whitfield played a key role in the planning and grant-writing efforts. The grant will fund a project manager, senior crew members, and a seasonal crew, as well as equipment purchases…