Goessel, Ramona receive fire grants

Goessel and Ramona fire departments each have received $15,000 grants from the state fire marshal to buy bunker gear and, in Ramona’s case, an extractor to wash the gear.

Goessel chief Matt Voth said five of his department’s 20 firefighters would get new coats, pants, and boots, in some cases replacing 13-year-old items.

Ramona fire chief Nathan Brunner said his department asked for $28,000.

The grant will let the department buy four to five sets of bunker gear for its eight firefighters.

The department also recently received a $5,000 grant from Kansas Forest Service to help pay for a remote fire truck nozzle that lets one firefighter operate it while others handle other tasks.

District president Mark Lockhart said the fire department were continuing work on its new fire station and underground water storage tank.

An open house will be scheduled when work is completed.

“It’s been hard to get contractors lined up,” Lockhart said.