May 24--Turnout gear isn't there to make firefighters look good when they go to work in a fire or rescue incident, but it helps.
The coat, pants, boots, gloves and other accoutrements of the job take a beating from normal use -- heat, fire, smoke and various toxic liquids that can be present in any given environment leave their mark on gear meant to keep that firefighter safe.
And so it came as good news to the North Lenoir Volunteer Fire Department this month when word came down from the Office of State Fire Marshal that its request for a VFD Fund grant came through.
"The Volunteer Fire Department Fund was created to financially assist fire departments with the purchase of equipment and capital expenditures," NLVFD said in a statement. "Each year, the N.C. OSFM awards more than $12 million in grants to fire and rescue organizations across our state. Chief Brian Wade accepted the award from the OSFM."
NLVFD Chief Information Officer Chris Decker said this year marks the first time the department received the grant it was seeking. Grants are awarded up to a maximum of $30,000, and must be met dollar-for-dollar by the department.
"(The) grant total is $14,380.50 and we will be purchasing 10 new sets of gear, head to toe, including helmets, gloves and boots," Decker said.
The firefighters receiving new gear already had their measurements taken and the orders have been placed. The matching funds needed were already earmarked to buy gear for five firefighters, so the NLVFD won't need to take any fundraising measures to meet the grant.
To be eligible for one of the grants, the department has to serve a population of 12,000 people or less, is all volunteer -- with the exception of up to six paid positions -- and recognized as rated/certified by the state Department of Insurance.
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.
Copyright 2014 - The Free Press, Kinston, N.C.
