Lincoln Boro fire company receives U.S. Steel donation

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com

The Lincoln Boro Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company is purchasing four or five new self-contained breathing apparatuses thanks to a nearly $25,000 donation from U.S. Steel.
Fire Chief Tony Perozich said getting the new apparatuses, which are commonly referred to as air packs, is vital to the department.
That’s because LBVFRC’s current SCBAs, which provide a source of oxygen to firefighters when battling a fire, are reaching the end of their lifespan, which is about 15 years, according to the chief.
The department, which has about 10 active-duty members, was last able to purchase SCBAs using a 2003 Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.
Perozich said the air packs cost around $6,300 apiece. He said funding for volunteer fire departments is limited and that the cost of new or up-to-date equipment continues to rise.
“Nothing is cheap anymore,” he said.
Perozich said the department would have liked to have been awarded a FEMA grant to purchase the apparatuses, but FEMA grant dollars awarded to LBVFRC this year were earmarked for the purchase of new hoses and nozzles, which were also reaching the end of their lifespan.
“FEMA grants are awarded like the lottery,” the chief said. “You never know if you’re going to get it or not.”
He would like to see more federal and state funds made available for volunteer fire departments and said U.S. Steel’s donation will be a big help.
“This is greatly appreciated,” he said of U.S. Steel’s donation.

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