Syracuse Fire Department Receives $5,000 Sharing Success Grant

Syracuse, Kan. – Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WEC) announced today that the Syracuse Fire Department has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the WEC Sharing Success Fund to help purchase rescue struts to use during emergency response situations.

The rescue struts will help firefighters stabilize overturned vehicles during emergencies, allowing them to safely rescue occupants and help ensure they receive a higher level of care as quickly as possible. Before the rescue struts, firefighters often relied on using whatever equipment that was on hand to perform extrications. 

The Syracuse Fire Department is staffed by 15 volunteer firefighters who balance full-time jobs aside from serving the community. They are responsible for fire protection and rescue from car accidents, storms, etc., for the community of Syracuse and anyone that is traveling through the community and are always on call. As a volunteer department, the Syracuse Fire Department relies on donations to help fund and maintain essential equipment.

The Scott Community Foundation began formally accepting applications for grants from the WEC Sharing Success Fund from community-based organizations on December 1, 2012. Since then, the application process has been moved internally and is currently handled directly by WEC. This year, WEC and CoBank have once again each contributed $10,000 to the fund. The program will continue to run until the funds are exhausted. Since 2012, WEC’s Sharing Success Fund has made $225,000 available to community-based organizations and projects across their service territory.

Community based organizations interested in receiving funding from the WEC Sharing Success Fund can apply online. Questions should be referred to Alli Conine, director of member services and corporate communications, at 620-874-4563 or aconine@weci.net.