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State grants worth more than $1.4 million will soon be upgrading the capabilities of several fire departments on the Kenai Peninsula.

At its Aug. 5 meeting, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly introduced six ordinances that, when adopted in September, will put the state funds to work. All the grants come through the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development or the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

Largest among these, Ordinance 2008-19-06, involves a $750,000 grant to construct firefighting water supply points in outlying areas where water tankers and fire engines could replenish their supplies.

The grant, included in the recently signed state capital budget, will enable Central Emergency Services to provide a higher level of service, borough officials said.

Bonnie Golden, borough grants manager, told the assembly that CES wants three new supply points. The project would mean installing three 20,000-gallon underground cisterns that could deliver 1,000 gallons of water per minute. The sites would include generators, in-ground pumps, and a well, she said in a memo to the assembly.

"The cisterns will act as a 'rural hydrant' during a structure fire or wildland fire emergency, and will allow the rapid filling of water tankers and fire engines when needed," she said.

Another measure, Ordinance 2008-19-03, would appropriate a $550,000 grant to purchase a new fire engine for the Nikiski Fire Service Area.

Ordinance 2008-19-09 would appropriate a $55,000 state grant for a multiuse facility for the Bear Creek Fire Service Area. The project would replace and existing 25-year-old fire station.

"Due to tremendous changes, growth in population and public demand for a higher level of service, the current fire station has become inadequate," Golden told the assembly.

Bear Creek voters supported the project in the October 2007 election, approving the expenditure of some $3.5 million in grants and bonds for the new facility. The state grant will move the project forward, she said.

Three small grants from DNR's 2008 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program went to three fire service areas. The Nikiski Fire Service Area got $6,375, Central Emergency Services got $7,000, and the Bear Creek Fire Service Area got $9,693.

One firefighting-related measure introduced Aug. 5 did not involve a state grant.

Ordinance 2008-19-12 would appropriate $40,000 from the Kachemak Emergency Service Area capital projects fund for purchase and upgrade of a new water tanker. The tanker, a 1980 model capable of carrying 4,000 gallons, will be purchased from the city of Valdez and upgraded to meet service area needs. The vehicle was sold by sealed bid, which a service area spokesman confirmed was won by the service area. The Valdez City Council and the borough assembly still must approve the sale.

All seven ordinances are scheduled for public hearings on Sept. 2.

Hal Spence can be reached at hspence@ptialaska.net.