The fire department, which services the four unorganized territories of Sinclair, Cross Lake, Square Lake and Madawaska Lake, and Westmanland through contract, applied for the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant this spring.  

The department responded to 38 calls in 2017 and already has responded to 39 calls this year.  

The FEMA firefighter grants help departments obtain equipment they might not be able to buy otherwise. The only stipulation for the grant awarded earlier this month, is for the department to pay 5 percent, roughly $2,500 of the cost to purchase the equipment.

“The JIBC runs a specialized world class training facility located here in Maple Ridge. First responders from across Canada and around the world received advanced training that allows them to deal with a huge array of fire emergency and rescue scenarios,” said Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read. “Council is pleased to be able to assist them with this important work with the donation of our retired fire truck.”

According to deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team, Kurt Crevier, 30, a firefighter with Pinellas Suncoast Fire District, was out testing a new 2018 Pierce Manufacturing fire truck with two fellow firefighters, traveling southbound on Gulf Boulevard.  

Deputies say as Crevier made a left turn from Gulf Boulevard, eastbound into a business at 18399 Gulf Boulevard, Johanna Costello, 54, of Largo, who was driving a 1995 GMC Jimmy northbound in the median lane of Gulf Boulevard, crashed into the last 4 feet of the passenger side of the fire truc