Bottled Water Raises Funds for Fire Services

A new brand of bottled water will hit the shelves of stores in Josephine County to raise money for local fire services.

The new water is called "Third Alarm" and will benefit the volunteer fire department in the Illinois Valley. The Illinois Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association is sponsoring the idea.

The water is bottled at Thunderbird Springs in Forest Grove and local stores received their first cases this week.

Volunteer firefighter Jeff Bradshaw came up with the idea in February.

"I was trying to figure a way to put something on a shelf and generate perpetual revenue and what better way to associate firefighting than with water?" Bradshaw said.

They hope selling water will allow the firefighters to purchase fire and safety equipment they need. So far about 360 cases have been made and the department says if all goes well, they can raise $20,000 each year through water sales.

"It's a win win (situation) you don't have to go ask for donations in the community if you're going to buy bottled water anyway and our price is the same as a national brand, national brands aren't going to support your firefighters," Bradshaw said.

Originally firefighters wanted to call it IV Fire Water but changed their minds and decided on Third Alarm water instead. It's slogan is "reach for us first, for that third alarm thirst."

"First alarm is initial response when you first get the call, second alarm is we need help, third alarm is we need more water now," Bradshaw explained.

Bradshaw has been busy making local deliveries of water cases to more than a dozen retailers that have caught on.

Mary's Mini Mart in Selma bought 10 cases and is selling it for $0.69 a bottle.

"I think the more people who hear about it will want to buy it because its going to help the locals its going to help your backyard almost every summer we have a fire... this will help pay to put the fire out," said Mary Monk, of Mary's Mini Mart.

With hopes when people see it on the shelves, they'll reach for Third Alarm, first.

Bradshaw says he hopes to get other firefighting agencies involved in the project and encourage them to start their own water brands.

Right now Third Alarm will only be sold in stores in the Illinois Valley area.

The volunteer firefighters will hold a fundraiser Friday and Saturday in the parking lot of Smart Shop in Cave Junction. You can get their Third Alarm water and a hot dog for $2.25.