$285K grant bolsters firefighting in Marysville

CalFire-Marysville Capt. Dale Skinner said the department worked together to outline specific reasons why a new water tender was needed.

"Replacing the older piece of equipment with the new tender that provides the latest industry standards is a great benefit to the citizens of Marysville and the local surrounding rural areas," Skinner said in a statement.

The new vehicle, which will be owned by the city, will carry 3,000 gallons of water and has a 750-gallons-per- minute pump. It replaces the 31-year-old vehicle Skinner said "requires constant, costly maintenance."

Funding comes at a time when the City Council is debating the future of fire protection in the city. A sales tax measure planned for the November ballot could determine whether there is funding available to retain CalFire or whether the city will start its own department.

The grant for the new tender is the second federal grant the local department has received this year. In January, the city was notified it had been approved for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding of up to $758,000 to boost staffing through March 2016.

Matt Brady, CalFire-Marysville engineer, was credited with writing the application for the competitive grant.

"Our firefighters knew that replacement of the water tender was an important safety issue that needed to be addressed," he said in a statement.

A water tender is specialized equipment designed to transport water from sources such as streams, lakes or hydrants and transporting it to a fire scene. They are commonly used in rural areas.

"With these federal funds, the Marysville Fire Department will purchase a water tender that will strengthen their ability to protect residents of the area from harm," Garamendi said.

CONTACT Eric Vodden at 749-4769.