Volunteer firefighters boost budgets with grants, fundraisers

In early February, visitors come from all points of Southern Nevada to take a ride or crane their necks to watch hot air balloons take to the sky for the Sandy Valley Volunteer Fire Department Balloon Fest and Safety Fair .

Underneath it all, the department's largest and most popular event is a fundraiser to keep the first responders on call and saving lives.

The Sandy Valley Volunteer Fire Department is one of 13 volunteer departments in Clark County covering most of the rural areas. The roughly 218 volunteers, mostly motivated residents of the 13 points , respond to about 2,000 emergency calls annually, Assistant Fire Chief Mike Johnson said.

Although their time and service is free, their training, supplies and equipment aren't.

"We have a pretty diverse set of challenges just like everywhere," Johnson said. "We had a big turnover with the economy being the way it is. Membership went down but it's coming back up."

At the end of March, a new batch of recruits is slated to graduate from training and raise the number of active volunteers from about 185 to 218 .

Each new volunteer is assigned protective gear, and their training is paid for by the department.

The 10 departments that fall within Clark County's fire district receive about $300,000 per year in funding from the county fire department, Johnson said. The three remain ing departments -- Moapa , Logandale and Overton -- are funded by their municipalities and fire district, he added.

Anything needed on top of that sum must be covered through fundraising or other fancy financial footwork, he said.

"It's really the community that pulls together to get it done," Johnson said. "It's kind of like the sky is the limit."

The Sandy Valley balloon festival charges about $50 per untethered ride and hosts a pancake breakfast at its annual event.

Overton volunteer firefighters set up a food booth at the Clark County Fair each year.

In November, Logandale volunteer firefighters hosted an arena off-road vehicle challenge.

Also last year, Station 81 on Mount Charleston was awarded about $63,000 via the Mt. Charleston License Plate Grant Program . The department asked for funds to purchase rescue equipment and advanced life-support equipment for fire department apparatus. "We have multiple paramedics on the mountain but have been unable to fund the cardiac monitor which is essential for advanced life support service," volunteer firefighter Luke May said.

The monitor is to upgrade advanced life support care, which includes advanced airway management, cardiac medication administration, chest decompression and multiple advanced life-saving techniques, May said.

Half of the grant money is also set to cover extrication tools and chain saws for rescue , he added.

Johnson said the volunteer departments arrange smaller fundraisers such as safety fairs, and the Clark County Fire Department assists with seeking greater funds, such as the license plate grant.

"You always have a set of challenges," Johnson said. "We always seem to be able to manage the budget effectively and keep running calls."

Private donations are accepted, too, he said.

"We meet the challenge (as) best we can," Johnson said. "Nothing is all sugar and pie, but it's definitely workable."

Contact Centennial and North Las Vegas View reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@viewnews.com or 477-3839.