The racks of present United Fire and Rescue District turnout gear will be replaced with up-to-date gear with a grant from the United States Department of Homeland Security.
United Fire and Rescue District has received a grant of $157,985 for purchase of pagers and turnout gear from the United States Department of Homeland Security.
The grant will be for purchase of pagers and turnout gear, according to a news release from Chief Reid Berger and Ken Peterson, President of the District's Board of Directors.
The grant from the 2007 "Assistance to Firefighters' Grant Program," totaled $166,300. However, United Fire and Rescue District is responsible for 5% of the total cost, so will receive $157,985.
The funds from Homeland Security will be used to purchase 80 new sets of turnout gear, or one set for every firefighter in the District. There will also be funds for 65 new pagers.
Turnout gear includes: helmet, coat, bunker pants, boots, gloves and hoods. The current sets used by United Fire are 10 years old and do not meet the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The new coats will have DRD, for drag-rescue-device, which is a heavy webbed rope on the back which facilitates the rescue of an incapacitate firefighter. Turnout gear is insulated and waterproof.
United Fire and Rescue District is a combined fire department with stations in Baldwin, Woodville and Hammond. It serves the villages of: Baldwin, Hammond, Wilson and Woodville; and the towns of Baldwin, Cady, Eau Galle, Emerald, Erin Prairie, Hammond, Pleasant Valley, Rush River and Springfield.
