The Moses Lake Fire Department is set to enhance its hazardous materials (hazmat) response capabilities, thanks to a significant financial boost. In a major development for the department, it has been awarded a $50,000 grant by Phillips 66. This funding will be instrumental in purchasing advanced breathing equipment, significantly upgrading their current apparatus.
Assistant Fire Chief Derek Beach expressed his gratitude for the grant, which was secured following a successful application to the philanthropy division of Phillips 66. This timely financial support will allow the department to acquire state-of-the-art equipment, including five one-hour oxygen packs and ten refillable oxygen bottles. This is a significant improvement over their current 30-minute breathing apparatuses, which have constrained their efficiency in handling prolonged hazmat situations.