VIDEO: Dorchester County Fire Rescue made a big purchase aimed at lowering firefighters’ exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.
The county has outfitted more than 80 firefighters and 60 volunteers with a second set of protective gear.
Fire Chief Trey Atkinson of Dorchester Fire Station 21 said this is a monumental step toward protecting firefighters from the numerous dangers they are exposed to on a day-to-day basis.
“There’s lots of avenues going on that are making it better for them. Unfortunately, this is the world and what we work in, it’s a dangerous job and that’s what causes this kind of thing,” Atkinson said.
The $300,000 investment provided equipment including bunker pants, jackets and flash hoods to 18 fire stations across the county. Officials said the funding was approved in the county council budget in July and delivered to stations within a month, the fastest turnaround time when deciding on a vendor.
