Fire district closes in on fund goal

Thanks to the generosity of Sisters area residents, the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District is very close to qualifying for a maximum matching grant to improve fire safety for lower-income residents, according to Fire Marshal Dave Wheeler.

Some $2,000 in contributions has been received to date toward a goal of $2,500 to get a maximum matching contribution of $2,500 from The TUMS Corporation, the antacid manufacturer.

The corporation’s public safety grant will allow the fire district to buy smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, escape ladders, and videos on how to effectively use fire extinguishers.

“The Kiwanis Club of Sisters has contributed $1,500 toward our goal of $2,500,” Wheeler said. “Individual contributions have added to the total.”

Because the district must make formal application for the grant by the end of September, Wheeler is asking that any additional contributions be made by Friday, September 23. Whatever the district has raised by that time will be matched by The TUMS Corporation.

The program will assist lower-income families.

“While we see a high compliance with smoke detectors and other fire safety equipment in most homes during our routine inspections, we often do not see these safety devices in place with many low-income families who lack finances to protect themselves,” Wheeler explained.

Contributions may be either cash delivered to the Sisters Fire Hall at 301 S. Elm Street in Sisters or a check made payable to Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District, with a memo note “TUMS Grant” and mailed to P.O. Box 1509, Sisters, OR 97759 by the September 23 deadline.