South Gilliam County RFPD

Gilliam County
Request: $79,295

South Gilliam County Fire is requesting funding to purchase 10- Bendix King BKR 9000 dual-band portable radios, along with the necessary batteries, chargers, programming software, and antennas. These radios will provide reliable communications for firefighters and emergency responders during emergency operations and will significantly improve responder safety and incident coordination.

Reliable communications are essential for every emergency response. South Gilliam County Fire responds to a wide variety of incidents, including wildland fires, structure fires, motor vehicle crashes, hazardous materials incidents, medical assists, and search and rescue operations. During large wildland fires and mutual aid responses, our personnel must communicate seamlessly with neighboring fire agencies, state resources, and federal cooperators. The Bendix King BKR 9000 dual-band radios will allow responders to communicate across both VHF and 700/800 MHz systems, ensuring interoperability with local, regional, state, and federal partners during multi-agency incidents.

South Gilliam County Fire protects a large, rural response area with limited financial resources. The district operates on an annual property tax revenue of approximately $43,000. After meeting basic operating expenses, very little funding remains to purchase critical safety equipment such as emergency communications systems. The cost of replacing outdated radios is well beyond the district's financial capability without outside assistance.

Funding this project will equip ten firefighters with dependable, modern communications equipment that enhances firefighter safety, improves command and control, and strengthens interoperability with our mutual aid partners. This investment will directly improve emergency response capabilities, reduce communication failures during critical incidents, and help ensure the safety of both responders and the communities they serve.