Federal grant to boost Granite's emergency radio coverage after rescue

A federal grant of roughly $33,000 will fund upgrades to emergency radio coverage and equipment serving Granite and nearby backcountry, county officials say, following a rescue that exposed holes in local communications. The award follows a recent rescue of an injured angler in the Elkhorn Mountains that highlighted where radio signals drop and responders struggle to coordinate.

The grant announcement, dated Jan. 8, 2026, responds to an operational shortfall that showed up during the backcountry incident. Volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians and search-and-rescue volunteers in Baker County have long managed large terrain with limited resources; gaps in radio coverage can delay scene size-up, clearing requests for medevac support and coordination among crews arriving from distant stations.

Planned upgrades will focus on improving radio coverage and replacing or supplementing aging equipment so first responders and volunteers in and around Granite have more reliable emergency communications. For a community with a small volunteer force and residents who recreate in the Elkhorn Mountains, better two-way communications means faster, safer responses and clearer coordination with county emergency management and mutual-aid agencies.

Local implementation and oversight will rest with the Baker County volunteer fire and EMS organizations and the Baker County Emergency Management office. Those offices will keep primary records on grant paperwork, equipment purchases and project timelines. Residents seeking specific project details or timelines should contact county emergency management or their local volunteer fire department for implementation schedules and community-impact plans.

The funding is modest compared with larger urban public-safety budgets, but for Granite it represents a targeted investment that can make a measurable difference on rocky ridges and forest roads where cellphone coverage is unreliable. Reliable radios help volunteers work more safely when they are coordinating rope rescues, patient packaging and transport over long distances to ambulance rendezvous points.

This project also underscores a practical point for anyone heading into the Elkhorn Mountains: even with better local radios, wilderness trips should include personal preparedness measures such as letting someone know your route, carrying a personal locator device when possible, and knowing how to describe your location relative to trailheads and landmarks.

The takeaway? Improved equipment won’t fix every backcountry hazard, but stronger radio coverage gives Granite’s small-but-dedicated responders a better shot at getting help where it’s needed quickly. Our two cents? Stay informed, support volunteer fire and EMS, and prep your next outing so rescuers have a clearer picture if you need help.