Niles firefighters will be able to breathe a little easier responding to fires after U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-10th), whose district includes a small part of Niles, said the Niles Fire Dept. will receive a $207,400 grant award for equipment.
Niles Fire Chief Marty Feld said he received an official notice Friday, Sept. 3 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the $207,400 Assistance to Firefighter Grant award through FEMA and the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. Feld said he received a call from Schneider earlier that week informing him of the grant award.
Feld said the funds would purchase 45 self-contained breathing apparatus units, excluding the air tanks or cylinders, which contain compressed air. The total cost to purchase the 45 units is $228,000. Feld said the grant funds 90% of that purchase.
Feld said the newest “packs” (breathing apparatus units) the department has are 13-years-old.