"I and everyone from the Palmyra Fire Department are very much appreciate of this award. The new equipment will replace worn and outdated gear that no longer meets safety standards. Repairs and replacement parts are expensive and are occurring more frequently. Our current equipment has served its time and is need of replacing. Safety of our firefighters is number one. Firefighting equipment, such as air packs are expensive, and our budget would not support a purchase this large. This award is allowing our department be NFPA compliant to replace 26 air packs in which we can protect our firefighters, community and response areas," said Chief Warren Frederick

Proponents say the policy exemption under HB 2010 will enable less wealthy communities that rely chiefly on volunteer firefighters to access equipment needed to ramp up their initial fire response, which can play a critical role in containing wildfires before they require state and federal intervention.

Under current policy, DNR can donate equipment and vehicles to local fire districts, but only if the value is less than $500. If not, then the resources must be auctioned off. The average selling price is roughly $5,000.

The problem is, many fire districts located in wildfire-prone areas such as Okanogan and Stevens County that are in urgent need of more vehicles can have annual budgets as low as $11,000. Westside districts with greater resources can easily outbid them, though sometimes the buyer is a private contractor.

Some of the features on it include having a light tower and Bluetooth capability, which makes it easier for firefighters to hear their radio.