SOUTHERN UTAH – The people associated with the Northwestern Special Service District, which includes Veyo, Brookside, Mountain Meadows, Central and Gunlock, are crossing their fingers for a new firehouse.
“We’ve had a couple of false starts,” the district’s public information officer, Kathy Tanasz, said. “We know what we want and we have the plans laid out.”
The Northwestern District recently submitted an application for a grant from the Utah Permanent Community Impact Fund Board. The Board provides loans and grants to state agencies and subdivisions of the state which may be socially or economically impacted by mineral resource development on federal lands. The grant, if given, is a 50-50 split grant between the district and the state toward the building design and engineering for public safety which Tanasz said “would aid in the needs of local public safety.”
The construction portion of the grant is part of the Community Development Block Grant.
“The NWSSD has been working with the community and the district itself to gain funding for three years,” Tanasz said, “after having surveyed the community to ensure that the interest and need was there to implement this new station. It’s two separate phases, two separate grants, two separate applications. But they overlap. This will be positive for the community.”
Found in the survey was the fact that many of Gunlock’s residents are seasonal or elderly so it is difficult to find volunteer fight fighters. So, it is up to the community as Gunlock seeks volunteers to help fight both structure and wildland fires.
This Saturday at 10 a.m. the NWSSD will be bringing their engines and hoses out to douse each other, enjoy a friendly water fight, and train on their equipment. The community is invited to attend a BBQ during the training at the Gunlock Chapel on Main Street. Assistant Chief and Training Officer for the Brookside Fire Department, LuAnn Carpenter, states “we will be training on hose clamps, drafting, fire hydrants, etc. And if they happen to get a neighbor wet, they won’t feel too bad about it.”
Gunlock Fire Chief Doug Heizer will be accepting volunteer applications for the Gunlock area. Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Veyo, Brookside and Central Fire Departments will also be accepting applications. Information will be available at the training. Interested residents can contact NWSSD Board Chairman, Steve Haluska for more information on joining the group of volunteers. Haluska can be reached at 435-632-2314.
(Saturday’s training is part of the District’s monthly combined training.)
Event details and contact information
Date: June 1
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Gunlock Chapel
Admission: Free
Contact: Steve Haluska – 435-632-2314
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @sarahisaacson1
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