RFD appreciates new generator

Editor,

We, the members of the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department, thank the Town Pump Charitable Foundation for their purchase of a Yamaha generator to be placed in the Ronan Fire Station #1.

Our request for the generator was persuaded by the power outage of January 24, 2006. During the outage we responded with two fire engine companies to a report of smoke inside a building on the Salish Kootenai College campus. We also dispatched one engine to assist the Ronan City Police with traffic control at the U.S. 93 and Round Butte stoplight. Another two units assisted the Ronan City Public Works Department and yet another engine company was dispatched to a carbon monoxide alarm in Pablo.

During the almost two hours of multiple incidents, we were able to maintain good communication and accountability for all units from the Ronan Station. The problem with this scenario was the matter of one fire engine being committed to the fire station for the use of its on-board generator.

Our new portable generator will allow all of our trucks to be utilized and allow us to maintain a central command post at the Ronan Station. We are now better prepared.

Once again thank you Town Pump Charitable Foundation, Pat Santos and Ronan Town Pump, Ronan Power Products and also thank you to the supportive community that we proudly serve. Be safe.

Chris Adler

Ronan-Pablo Fire Chief