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NEWPORT - Pend Oreille County Fire District 4 has been given a donation by Merkle Standard to pay for a much needed piece of equipment that will help save the lives of both residents and visitors of Pend Oreille County.
Robert Webber, Fire Chief of Pend Oreille County Fire District 4, stated that Merkle Standard has always tried to be supportive of Fire District 4 since they moved into the Ponderay Newsprint facility in Usk, but shy of some small favors with some minor I.T. help, Chief Webber has always deferred offers of help from them to other area agencies that is until now.
Webber states that when it was determined that District 4 needed one more mobile EKG machine to ensure that there was always one of these machines at the scene of every emergency medical call within the Fire District, the question became how in the world can we pay for it, as District 4 couldn’t afford the approximately $65,000 price tag associated with the machine.
Webber then started looking for funding through other means, which included asking for donations from area businesses and the PUD. Webber states that nobody was able or willing to donate until he reached out to Monty Stahl, the Chief Operating Officer of Merkle Standard, and Merkle Standard responded big by wanting to cover the whole expense associated with this machine.
Webber states that “it really is no surprise that Merkle Standard stepped up to help the Fire District with this acquisition, as they have been exceptional at supporting various local area events and emergency service agencies throughout the county since they began calling our community home.
“Merkle Standard and Ponderay Industries are proud to support Fire District 4, as well as the health and safety of all the Pend Oreille County residents that will benefit from this equipment,” Steve Wood, Chief Executive Officer for Merkle Standard and Ponderay Industries, said. “My father was a Fire Captain in southern Idaho when I was growing up and I loved spending time with him and his team. Because of that connection I have a special level of admiration for our brave and courageous first responders.”
Steve Wood, Chief Operating Officer for Merkle Standard, said the company is very proud to support the purchase of this life saving equipment for Pend Oreille Fire District 4.
“We are First Responders in Pend Oreille County face dual challenges of small budgets and large rural districts. As a large business, and one of the few large employers in this area, it is both an honor and our responsibility to support our local first responders,” Wood said. “Since inception, Merkle Standard has been an active community member, supporting many of the local Fire Districts and other community organizations. We look forward to continuing our local operations and partnerships for many years to come.”
The medical device has been purchased and is in service on a response vehicle, adding to the overall capabilities Fire District 4 has to save lives through the deployment of modern technology.
