Forest Lakes Fire District thanks GRIC for assistance at presentation

GRIN Staff

Gila River Indian News

A special presentation was made before a Community Council meeting at the Gila River Indian Community Governance Center on March 4. Representatives from the Forest Lakes Fire District thanked the Community for providing them the grant to purchase a new ambulance and power gurney. 

“The Forest Lakes Fire District Board and Management team greatly appreciate the support provided by the Gila River Indian Community,” said Tom Cummiskey, Board Chairman for the Forest Lakes Fire District. 

He read a proclamation thanking the Community for providing the financial assistance, necessary for FLFD to purchase a new emergency vehicle. Through a state shared gaming revenues grant, in the amount of $250,000 was awarded to FLFD in September of 2018 and they received the ambulance in November 2019.

The Forest Lakes Fire District provides emergency medical services and wildland fire suppression support to a broad area, that covers 326 miles of the Sitgreaves National Forest, residential and recreational areas within Coconino County. 

The new ambulance has 4x4 capabilities for hard to reach locations that are difficult for normal emergency vehicles. 

Cheryl Pablo, Program Administrator for the Office for Special Funding said, “Our office manages 12% of what we give to neighboring cities, towns, and counties. The grant was submitted through Coconino County and was awarded $250,000 to go towards the new ambulance unit.”

David Rodriguez, Fire Chief for the Forest Lakes Fire District, said the new unit will “expand on our existing services with the new technology and systems will make it more reliable for emergency services.”

Rodriguez also said, “It’s very humbling, exciting, and we’re all appreciative to have this new apparatus as part of our fleet. We’re all proud to have it and put it into service soon.”