Fire departments receive $1M in grants

(Appeal Capital Bureau) Nine Nevada fire departments will receive a total of $1.05 million from the "Assistance to Firefighters" grant program run by the federal Homeland Security Department.

State Fire Marshal Doyle Sutton said the grants will ensure fire agencies have the resources necessary to improve safety and save lives.

The communities receiving the awards are Boulder City, Carlin, Mason Valley, Mesquite, the Shoshone-Paiute tribe, Sparks, Walker River, West Wendover and Winnemucca.

The largest grant will go to the Shoshone-Paiute Fire Department and Mason Valley Fire Protection District. The total $448,225 will replace old vehicles with new equipment.

Next largest pot of money awarded is the $334,157 to the West Wendover Fire Department in cooperation with the state Department of Public Safety, Nevada Division of Forestry and University Fire Science Academy in Carlin for a fire training simulator. The device will help train some 400 firefighters each year.

Boulder City and the Sparks Fire departments received funding for wellness and fitness programs totaling $96,113. And the Carlin Volunteer Fire Department, City of Mesquite, Walker River volunteers and Winnemucca Volunteer Fire Department were awarded a collective $165,308 for protective clothing, breathing apparatus and other equipment.

Sandoval unveils ID Theft Passport

Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval said there were 2,935 such complaints filed in the state during 2004 and, he said, he is presenting a new program to try reduce those numbers.

The program is called Identity Theft Passport and will help educate residents - particularly seniors - on how to better protect their personal information.

In addition, he said, the attorney general's office will help victims of identity theft recover and re-establish their credit.

"Identity theft is one of the most devastating and under-reported crimes," he said. "In most cases, the victims don't know where to turn to get the help they need to salvage their credit."

He said the Passport program was designed to help victims control their personal information and recover if they have been victimized by identity thieves.

He will present the program at Reno's Senior Fest at Reno's Park Lane Mall at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Alleged impostor arrested near school

(Staff report) A Carson City teen was arrested Tuesday for allegedly impersonating a firefighter at Carson Middle School.

Roger Schuler, 18, posted a $2,632 bail at the Carson City Jail where he was held on suspicion of gross misdemeanor impersonating a peace officer.

According to the police report, Schuler allegedly entered Carson Middle School about 2 p.m. dressed in "full Pleasant Valley Fire Department jumpsuit," and went to the nurse's office claiming to be there for a child who overdosed.

Schuler then allegedly "walked around the school for a short time acting as if he was conducting fire department duties," wrote Deputy Rick Encinas in his report.

Deputies found Schuler at Musser and Curry streets, questioned him and called the local fire jurisdictions, discovering Schuler was not affiliated with any departments in the area.