Like a milk carton or a quarterback’s knees, firefighting gear comes with an expiration date. That means keeping current with safety standards can strain a small town’s budget.
That’s certainly true in Powers, a Coos County town with about 700 residents and chronic economic hardships. But thanks to a $22,000 grant from the Coquille Tribal Community Fund, Powers soon will outfit its volunteer fire department with all-new “turnouts” to replace its increasingly antiquated gear.