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It was awarded $160,583 for a firefighting vehicle on Aug. 15, 2003; and $38,773 on June 11, 2004 and $32,186 on Aug. 3, 2007 for fire operations and fire safety from the Department of Homeland Security under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

Now it can add a $164,350 grant to that list, which will be used to purchase a new tanker truck.

"It's been a blessing," said Deputy Fire Chief and Village President David Dorr. "It's been great. It's a competitive grant that definitely has a need."

The new 2,500-gallon tanker will replace a much older model, a 1982 tanker that holds 2,100 gallons of water. The truck will allow the department to transport larger quantities of water to fire scenes, an important asset to a rural community.

"This grant will help continue the great work the Otter Lake Fire Department has been doing," said U.S. Representative Candice Miller in a press release. "The funding provided will supply the means for more efficient and effective emergency preparedness. And it is necessary for our first responders to be properly equipped so they can perform their life-saving work. Updated response equipment must be available for them to protect residents."

The need for a bigger tank for water will help the department greatly, Dorr said. Not only will the new vehicle comply with updated standards and rules, there are no fire hydrants in the area. Therefore, all the water is needed to make sure firefighters stay safe when fighting the blazes.

"All the water is used," he said. "This will benefit the community greatly, and the surrounding community. If we have a mutual aid call requiring more water, we'll have it for everybody to use."

The tankers are custom built for the community and will likely take between six to seven months to construct, Dorr added. The bidding process to find a company to build the tanker has begun.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides grants to first-responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment and vehicles, and provide scholarships for firefighters' training school.

Jeff Hoard can be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8127 or jeff.hoard@lapeergroup.com