County awards Potter VFD funds for new equipment
The Cheyenne County Commissioners awarded the Potter Volunteer Fire Department $5,000 in KENO funds toward the purchase of a new air compressor to fill SCBA air tanks.
By News Channel NebraskaSIDNEY -- The Potter Volunteer Fire Department is $5,000 closer to the purchase of a new air compressor.
Potter Fire Chief Mark Onstott met with the Cheyenne County Commissioners today seeking KENO funds for the equipment project.
"We are in the process of continually updating and upgrading our equipment for our fire department and our community and the surrounding communities. One item that is in desperate need of being replaced is an old air compressor that fills our SCBAs, self-contained breathing apparatus, that we rely on to go into structures, fight vehicle fires, so on, Haz-mat conditions. Right now, we cannot get parts for it. We do not have a certified tech to repair it. So, it is completely outdated. What we want to do is upgrade to a 6,000 psi compressor, which is looking out into the future," Onstott said.
Onstott said the 6,000 psi compressor can serve the Potter community and neighboring communities during a mutual aid event.
"That is also to replace four cylinders on our heavy rescue truck, which is a mobile fill station. It will go to 6,000 psi, and we can regulate it down to fill anything from 2200 to 4500 to 5500 bottles. So we'll be able to fill everybody's bottles within our surrounding area. There is some discussion about the NFPA, which is the National Fire Protection Act, going away from 2216 bottles, forcing us to 4500 or above. So, this is just going to fit right in with that, possibly within the next five years," he said.
Onstott said the fire department has received funds from other organizations. The Sidney And Greater Area fund recently awarded a grant to the Potter Volunteer Fire Department as well. The PVFD is also doing fundraisers in support of the project. The project also includes fire department funds, Onstott said. He said they also want to build a new training facility, they have a new engine on order, and the department is looking to expand the fire house.
For more information about the Potter Volunteer Fire Department, contact Onstott at P.O. Box 384, Potter, Neb. 69156, 308-249-5921, or email at [email protected].