VERMILION LAKE TWP— The volunteer fire department here has been awarded a $73,333 grant from the federal Aid to Firefighters Grant program for the purchase of new self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA.
The department had identified replacement of SCBA, along with the replacement of the department’s primary water tender, as its top two priorities last year. The department purchased a newer tender earlier this year with department savings, and the federal grant will now cover the cost of the purchase of new SCBA.
“The new packs will have integrated PASS alarms, thermal imaging, and a tremendous amount of weight reduction over the department’s current SCBA,” said Vermilion Lake Chief Steve Lotz. “That makes for less fatigue, more safety, and more effective firefighting, which wouldn’t have been possible without the AFG dollars.”
Vermilion Lake Township will be required to provide a five-percent match as part of the proposal to purchase new SCBA for members of the department. No other area departments were awarded funding as part of this most recent announcement. Other AFG awards are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The AFG program is funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with allocations from Congress.