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Two area volunteer fire departments have received state grants that will pay half the cost of equipment purchases.
The Otho Fire Department received a grant of $2,239.
“That is partially paying for our digital radios,” Fire Chief Marty Smith said.
Public safety agencies in Webster County are converting to a digital radio system intended to provide clear transmissions over longer distances. According to Smith, the county government has purchased radios and issued them to the smaller fire departments. Those departments have to pay the county for the radios. The Otho department is using grant money to make that payment.
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OTHO During any future power outages, the lights will still be on at the Otho fire station and the big garage doors will still roll up automatically so the fire trucks can go out.
A new generator, paid for in part by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, will make that possible. Final installation was completed Friday.
Fire Chief Marty Smith said it will start running automatically whenever there is a power failure.
”Anytime the power goes out boom it goes on,” he said.
Backup power is needed to support the operations of the Fire Department. But it is also needed because the fire station is the emergency shelter for the city.