Gallatin-Sunnyside VFD: Firefighters receive FEMA grant to replace SCBA gear
By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com
After 16 years without a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant, the Gallatin-Sunnyside Volunteer Fire Department has landed its second FEMA grant in as many years.
The department was recently notified that it will receive $162,857 to replace its SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) gear.
“Last year we received $424,186 to replace our brush truck,” said First Assistant Chief DJ Newman.
Both grants were desperately needed.
“The last time we got a FEMA grant was 2004 when we got new SCBA and turnout gear,” Newman said. “The SCBA has a lifespan of 15 years, then they need to be replaced, so that’s what it takes to replace all of our SCBA gear.”
Newman said this year’s grant will cover the cost of 14 SCBA units and 28 air cylinders, enough to outfit the usual number of firefighters responding to a scene.
“We’ll have a mask for every person,” Newman said. “We have 27 active firefighters. We have enough for everyone who’s going to respond and go inside. We get 10 to 15 people on a call.”
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