Grants Pass and Douglas County Fire District No. 2 Receive High-Tech Water Rescue Equipment through Oregon’s SPIRE Grant Program

SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is proud to announce the delivery of advanced water rescue equipment to two Oregon communities as part of the State Preparedness and Incident Response Equipment (SPIRE) grant program.

The City of Grants Pass Fire Rescue and Douglas County Fire District No. 2 have each received an Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard (E.M.I.L.Y.) - a swift water rescue device designed to support life-saving efforts in dangerous water conditions. These compact, remote-controlled, battery-powered devices can travel through swift current to bring a flotation device directly to a person in distress, making them a vital tool for rapid water rescue.

"We are excited to have received our Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard (E.M.I.L.Y.) devices through the SPIRE grant program," said Joseph Hyatt of Grants Pass Fire Rescue. "This device will provide rescuers with a much-needed tool to mitigate water rescue incidents safely and successfully."

Douglas County Fire District No. 2 also recognized the immediate value of the device. "On behalf of Central Douglas County Fire & Rescue, and the constituents we serve, we are thankful to have been recipients of E.M.I.L.Y.," said Fire Chief Rob Bullock. "We quickly realized the benefits and life-saving ability this will bring to our response area, ultimately aiding in a high success for survivability to the people that call for our aid. Deployment is quick, it's effective and practical, and was immediately implemented into our response package."

The equipment was received in May by the City of Grants Pass Fire Rescue and the Douglas County Fire District No. 2. These cutting-edge tools represent the state's commitment to enhancing local emergency response capabilities through SPIRE - a grant program designed to bolster disaster preparedness by equipping first responders with essential technology and tools.

SPIRE-funded resources are mapped on Oregon's SPIRE Hub (spire-geo.hub.arcgis.com), a public platform that provides information and coordination opportunities for emergency response assets across the state. The availability of this equipment on the SPIRE map enhances situational awareness and promotes mutual aid support across jurisdictions.

To learn more about the SPIRE program and see where life-saving equipment is located throughout Oregon, visit: https://spire-geo.hub.arcgis.com