Sherwood Forest Estates Fire Department received funding and donations of water tanks to help with fire suppression efforts.
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The Sherwood Forest Estates Fire Department (SFEFD) recently received grant funding and the donation of several water tanks courtesy of the Sherwood Fire Fighters Foundation.
Sherwood Forest Fire Chief John Moede stated the foundation’s monetary grant and material donation provided much needed improvements to the facility and a substantial increase to the district’s ready supply of water.
The Sherwood Fire Fighters Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides assistance to firefighters and fire districts in Northern Arizona.
“Our foundation is dedicated to assisting firefighters, rescue, and EMS personnel perform their jobs safely and effectively,” said Bob Simoneau, foundation president. “As in many professions, there are often much-needed resources, equipment, and tools that for which fire, rescue and EMS budgets do not provide.”
Simoneau said this includes funding equipment that is critical to the emergency scene, life and safety and that can be shared on a regional basis.
“All of the funds and property donated to the Fire Department originated from within this fire district,” Simoneau said.
The recent grant included a 5,000 and a 30,000 water storage tanks and $32,000 for new fire station doors, electrical upgrades and building repairs.
Moede stated this was a critical and long overdue improvement as the building was designed in the early 1980s when the fire agency’s vehicles were much smaller than today’s and the facility’s electrical demands were minimal.
The current much larger fire fighting vehicles had just inches to spare, according to Moede.
The replacement of the main building’s original ten foot wide doors was accomplished by modifying the building’s structure and installing new 12 foot wide doors.
The electrical work included the installation of quick disconnect automatic fire truck battery charging systems to keep all vehicles ready to start at a moment’s notice.
The water tanks effectively doubled the district’s water storage capacity. The 30,000 water tank was transported to the fire station on a special wide load heavy lift trailer and required a large crane to lift into its final position. The tanks’ transportation and installation services were included as part of the donation. More information is available from Sherwood Forest Estates Fire Department at https://sherwoodfirefightersfoundation.org.
