One entity in Greene County hit the jackpot this year receiving over $150,000 in local grants.

Grand Junction Fire and Rescue was awarded two Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation grants, including $69,000 for a new automatic power lift cot for an ambulance and a $60,000 grant went to the fire department for ten portable digital radios. The entity also received a $29,036 grant from the Greene County Community Foundation for new overhead doors that Assistant Fire Chief Mark Renslow says was for the two ambulances, the rescue truck and a foam truck that Louis Dreyfus provided at their station.

“The original doors are almost 47 years old and you couldn’t get parts for them no more. So they were due to be replaced and we got that grant and they’ve been in for about two months. We do have a couple of panes of glass that need replaced that got broke during shipment, but other than that they’re up and running. We all got remotes in all of the vehicles so we don’t have to get out and push buttons and stuff, and they go up faster, and they’re more energy efficient. They’re all glass that way you can see out and the natural sunlight will help heat the building.”     

Renslow points out the ten portable digital radios were also to replace their older units and are needed since the county is switching over to a statewide system that is completely digital with the installation of a new emergency communications tower. He also notes that the power load cot is to help the rescue unit when it goes on calls to lift individuals up to 600 pounds automatically and it loads them into the ambulance without having to strain themselves. 

Renslow expresses his gratitude to Grow Greene County and the Greene County Community Foundation, as well as the community for their continued support of the fire and rescue departments.

“The citizens of our territory that we cover are tremendous with donating money to us to get what we need, they understand. Like this ambulance here was paid strictly by donations, we never had to come out of pocket for it. I can remember when we went to go get it the rescue captain at the time said, ‘It’ll take us a couple of years to get that kind of money raised.’ We raised it in three months. But they still come out when we have our feeds and stuff, they come out in groves and take care of us, and we really appreciate what all the community does for us.”  

Renslow adds if anyone would like to make a tax-deduction donation, they can make checks payable to Grand Junction Fire and Rescue and give it to any of their firefighters or rescue personnel, or mail it to 107 West Main Street, Grand Junction 50107.