Just in time for its annual open house, the Ocean Shores Fire Department learned it had “won the lottery.”
That was the way Chief David Bathke described the new fire engine the department will be able to purchase through the announcement of a $511,000 federal grant that will pay most of the cost for the much-needed equipment. The grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Bathke credited the city’s grant writer Sarah Bisson, as well as Fire Lt. Joe Hoffman for putting together the application in January.
The city first has to put the engine out for bid, which Bathke said will be done in the next couple of weeks.
“It’s got to be built,” he said, noting it could be until next September before the process is completed.
Bathke noted he previously had been an evaluator for the FEMA grant process, so he was familiar with what criteria had to be met for Ocean Shores to qualify.