Deaver-Frannie FD receives water via grant

A pallet bearing a tall stack of drinking water cans was moved into the firehall in Deaver Tuesday morning, the product of a grant the Deaver-Frannie Fire Department landed recently.

The water – 96 cases of canned drinking water – came from a grant the fire district wrote and was awarded by the National Volunteer Fire Council in conjunction with Anheuser-Busch, which produced the cans of water.

Fire Chief Nick Loftus said the NVFC offers online and in-person training, and the department has taken advantage of the online services. The district wrote the water grant this spring and received word that the water would be delivered. Tuesday, Tom Swanton and Taylor Hall of Quality Beverage out of Cody delivered the pallet of water.

Loftus said the water – used for refreshing and hydrating firemen during a fire incident – will be available to other fire districts in the area including Lovell, Bridger and south county districts like Greybull and Basin. The firehall in Deaver will serve as the distribution site.

The cans of water are simply labeled WATER with the Anheuser-Busch logo but also bear the following statement: “For more than 30 years – when America has faced disaster – we’ve stopped production so we can donate clean drinking water for those in need. We partner with the American Red Cross, the National Volunteer Fire Council and our wholesaler family to distribute it to neighbors like you.” – Your neighbors at Anheuser-Busch

According to the NVFC website, the National Volunteer Fire Council “is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education and advocacy for first responders across the nation.”