For the fourth year, Globe, DuPont Protection Technologies (DuPont), and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have partnered to provide new, state-of-the-art turnout gear to fire departments in need.
Through the 2015 Globe Gear Giveaway Program, 13 departments from the United States and Canada will each receive four sets of gear. This year’s first three recipients are the South Amboy, N.J., Fire Department, Koosharem, Utah, Fire Rescue, and L’Orignal Fire Department, Ontario, Canada.
“We are excited to kick off this year’s Globe Gear Giveaway awards by providing gear to these three deserving departments,” said NVFC Chairman Kevin D. Quinn. “We received over 550 applications for gear, demonstrating the need that fire departments are facing across North America. Through this program, we lessen the burden on departments who are struggling to provide gear to their members and often have to make do with gear that is old, non-compliant, ill-fitting, and otherwise inadequate, putting the safety of the firefighters at risk. We are extremely grateful to Globe and DuPont for their generous support of the volunteer fire service.”
To be eligible to apply for the four sets of new Globe turnout gear, departments had to be all-volunteer or mostly-volunteer, serve a population of 25,000 or less, be legally organized in the U.S. or Canada, demonstrate a need for the gear, and be a member of the NVFC. To help departments meet this last requirement, Globe sponsored NVFC Department Memberships for the first 200 non-members to apply.
The South Amboy, N.J., Fire Department is comprised of 150 volunteer firefighters who respond to an average of 320 calls per year. Their small budget is earmarked for maintenance of their 10 apparatus and vehicles as well as pump, ladder, and hose testing. Their last gear purchase was in 2007 but only provided 25 new sets of gear; over 80 sets of their current gear are more than 10 years old. A major residential development of 1,800 units is currently being developed in their service area, which will essentially double the town’s population and further stretch the budget and resources of the department. Despite these limitations, the department responds on mutual aid assignments to neighboring towns which account for 30 percent of their responses. The donation of four sets of gear will help them make sure their dedicated responders have proper protection.
Koosharem Fire Rescue, an all-volunteer department in Utah, provides fire suppression and emergency service to an area of over 350 square miles. This area consists of rural, farming, wildland-urban interface, and forestry lands, including two state highways for which they are the first due engine. Only 12 of their 14 firefighters have a complete set of turnout gear, and of those who do, four sets are over 10 years old. The department operates on an extremely small budget, and the Globe gear donation will allow them to increase the safety and security of their firefighters.
The L’Orignal Fire Department in Champlain, Ontario, Canada, is an all-volunteer organization with 26 active firefighters protecting 8,500 citizens in an 80-square-mile area. In addition to standard apparatus and gear needs, the department must purchase and maintain ice and water rescue gear. The donated gear will help protect their firefighters while allowing room in their budget for other funding priorities.
Additional awards through the Globe Gear Giveaway Program will be made monthly throughout 2015. A total of 52 sets of gear will be distributed to departments in need. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site, Dispatch newsletter, and page on Facebook, as well as the Globe page on Facebook, for additional information and announcements regarding the Globe Gear Giveaway Program.
About Globe
Firefighters need to be prepared to perform at their peak, on every call. That’s why Globe delivers the most advanced, best-fitting, and longest lasting protection by listening to our customers, creating breakthrough designs, and applying the engineering skills of the nation’s most trusted turnout gear manufacturer. Globe turnout gear is designed to protect you, move with you, and improve your performance. It’s athletic gear for firefighters. Learn more at www.globeturnoutgear.com.
About DuPont Protection Technologies
DuPont Protection Technologies (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.
About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.
