Adams County Fire District 5 donates equipment

OTHELLO — Adams County Fire District 5 will donate used equipment to Franklin County Fire District 5.

The Adams County district gathered several surplus items, with no value to the city, said City Clerk Debbie Kudrna. The items are no longer used by the district because they were replaced with newer equipment.

The surplus equipment going to the Franklin County district includes 17 self-contained breathing apparatuses and 12 composite cylinders with working valves, she said.

The equipment is used to provide clean air for firefighters.

“We are in need of equipment for our volunteers and our funds are pretty much at a zero amount right now,” Franklin County Fire District 5 Commissioner Jim Brook wrote to the Othello City Council.

He requested the used items after seeing a surplus equipment sheet prepared by the Adams County district.

“Even though these are noncompliance items, we can use them to get by for a while until we get our feet on the ground,” Brook stated. “These would, at least, if nothing else, be a good training tool for our volunteers.”

The Franklin County district is a newly formed fire district created by voters in 2007.

The Othello City Council unanimously approved to allow the donation.