Sam Owen Fire District is an all-volunteer department in Hope, Idaho. We protect about 88 square miles of wildland-urban interface, along with a BNSF rail corridor, Cabinet Gorge Dam, Lake Pend Oreille marinas, and U.S. Highway 200.
Most of our land base is government-owned and non-taxable, and Idaho’s levy caps limit our revenue. Replacing aging turnout gear wasn’t something our budget could absorb on its own.
Working with First Responder Grants on our FY 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant made a real difference.
Their review of our narrative and budget sharpened our application. They guided us through the AFG priorities and scoring, and they were responsive and practical throughout the process.
The result was an award of roughly $120,000 to replace our firefighters’ structural PPE.
That’s gear our members wear every time they answer a call that we couldn’t afford without the help of First Responder Grants.
For departments without dedicated grant staff, having experienced help in your corner matters. We’d recommend First Responder Grants to any department considering an AFG or any other grant application.
Chris Popov
Sam Owen Fire District
Hope, Idaho