SAULT STE. MARIE — Fire departments across the eastern Upper Peninsula have upgraded their communication systems with new 800 megahertz radios, thanks to a federal grant.
Departments in Sault Ste. Marie, Pickford, Dafter Township, Soo Township, Bay Mills Township and Kinross EMS recently received 112 radios, purchased with $780,000 from a regional Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The grant required a 10% local match of $7,800.
Sault Ste. Marie Fire Chief Ed Miller said the technology was much needed for the area.
“Interoperability really started to be talked about after the tragedy of 9/11 where people had problems communicating. We still have areas like that. We were like that up to recently where we couldn’t communicate with our neighbors. Now, with these radios we can and it’s all programmed out so it makes it easier to use,” Miller said.
He added that several other fire departments in the eastern Upper Peninsula are still using older technology, but he hopes they will eventually transition to 800 megahertz communications.