It has been a remarkable week for one local fire department in Greene County.

The Grand Junction Fire and Rescue Unit received two grants for needed updates. On Monday, the Greene County Community Foundation awarded $17,138 and Fire Chief Bret Kersey tells Raccoon Valley Radio those funds will be used to purchase new extraction equipment.

“The current ones we have are about 20 years old and we actually bought those used 20 years ago. So it’s going to be really nice to get something new and updated. They are a little bit more lightweight, the current ones we have now are obviously old and extremely heavy. These ones will have the different pieces, so depending on the situation they’ll be able to be adjusted and hopefully make things faster when they need to be.”   

Then on Tuesday, the fire department received a $43,000 grant from Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation for all new bunker gear for the firefighters.

The week caps off tomorrow with a first-ever Fish Fry Fundraiser at the fire station in Grand Junction from 5:30-8:30pm. For $10, everyone can get two pieces of fried Alaskan pollock, along with homemade fries, coleslaw, and lemonade or iced tea, and there will be beer sold to those 21 and over. Those five and under can eat for free. Kersey says they wanted to try something different and the proceeds will go toward fulfilling the rest of the expense of purchasing new bunker equipment. 

He talks about how important it is for everyone to support their fundraiser, especially the younger kids.

“That’s a big thing that we’re trying to focus on is the younger kids. We want to be familiar faces and that goes with everybody in the county and in our town. So that way in the unfortunate event of a bad situation, it’s somewhat of a familiar face.”

The fundraiser meal will be served while supplies last. Kersey appreciates the grants that his department has received and hopes lots of people can join them for their fundraiser tomorrow.