The Basin Volunteer Fire Department received $7,500 in American Rescue Plan Act funding. This money was used towards spray foam insulating. Local business Rocky Mountain Insulation did the work along with a host of volunteer community members who helped move, organize and secure supplies and equipment during the project so that the Basin Fire Department could still respond to emergencies.
The new foam insulation will greatly reduce fuel and heating costs in the winter. The rising cost of propane and fuel has made keeping trucks and equipment warm and ready to use in the winter at times that would otherwise be difficult.
Over the summer, the fire department also did a fundraiser and raised over $2,000 with a Basin Day Raffle and community donations put toward paying for cleaning and painting the outside of the fire hall as well. That project was completed in August.
The Basin Fire Department has an open part-time paid employee position for bookkeeping, filing and community hall rentals. Otherwise the department relies on the help of volunteer community members who meet with contractors, make phone calls, clean, organize and facilitate repairs. There are many ways to be involved with the community and fire department specifically. If people think just responding to fires and medical calls is all there is to do then this is a reminder that there is help needed at every level of running a successful and supportive community.
The Basin Volunteer Fire Department is always looking for and welcoming new members to join. Those interested can email basinvfd@gmail.com.
Basin Community Center also receives upgrades
The Basin Fire Department also manages the Basin Community Hall, which also received some ARPA funding. The Community Hall received $9,500 in grant funding that was used to install a new furnace and air filtration system. Local business Arctic Heat was contracted to do the work, which included taking out an old furnace in the basement that was no longer being used and installing a brand new one with new duct work that now distributes the heat throughout the building while also circulating the air throughout the two-story building. Arctic Heat also removed the old ceiling-mounted furnace and installed a UV light air filtration system.
The Basin Community hall can be rented to anyone for events. There is a discount for Basin residents to use it.
