The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Fire District 7 a $758,000 Assistance to Firefighters grant. The money will be used to purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs) for firefighters, according to a statement from District 7.
There are three different parts to an SCBA; air bottle, pack, and a mask. The packs that are currently being used are set to expire soon. With the assistance of the FEMA grant all three parts will be replaced. For safety purposes, every firefighter is required to wear an SCBA while fighting a fire.
“Firefighter safety is a top priority,” says Assistant Fire Chief of Operations, Eric Andrews. “There are additional safety features in the new packs that will help keep our firefighters safe.”