Lake Hamilton Fire has been awarded a highly competitive Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for first responders. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant received will provide needed safety equipment for the fire department.
The federal funds will be utilized to purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs). The SCBAs will be used by firefighters when extinguishing fires and working in hazardous environments to provide safe breathing air. Additional funds will be used to purchase a new cascade system to fill the new SCBA cylinders, and a Rapid Intervention Pack (RIT) to assist in rescuing a firefighter in distress in a fire.
The grant was awarded based on the department's request and needs. The new equipment includes 29 SCBAs, 29 face masks, 58 air cylinders, a Cascade system, and a RIT pack. This grant also allows each firefighter to have their own face mask issued to them.
Lake Hamilton Fire Chief Doug Davey said: “We are pleased to receive this much-needed Assistance to Firefighters federal grant. It allows us to purchase needed equipment to help keep our firefighters safe and help improve their effectiveness. We are truly thankful for this grant. We also want to thank Brian Quinn, Linc Cothren, and Jessi Collums with Siddons-Martin Emergency Group for helping make this a seamless process.”
According to FEMA, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant was established “to help firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.”
Davey says that the department still has a few unfunded needs such as a tanker, an additional fire boat, and some equipment. He is constantly seeking alternative funding sources such as federal, state, and local grants and donations, If you would like to help fund any of these future projects please contact Chief Davey at 501 525 4361. Your support and contributions will enable us to continue providing quality protection services.
Copyright © 2023 Lake Hamilton Fire Department - All Rights Reserved.