Globe, DuPont Protection Technologies (DuPont), and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have announced the second round of winners in the 2015 Globe Gear Giveaway. This is the fourth year that Globe has partnered with DuPont and the NVFC to provide volunteer departments with critically needed sets of turnout gear. The Georgetown, Maine, Volunteer Fire Department and North Fork, Idaho, Fire Protection District will each be outfitted with four sets of new, state-of-the-art Globe turnout gear.
“We are pleased to announce two more recipients in the 2015 Globe Gear Giveaway,” said NVFC Chairman Kevin D. Quinn. “Compliant, correctly-fitting gear is paramount to keeping firefighters safe as they work to protect our communities, yet many departments struggle with providing adequate gear to their responders. We thank Globe and DuPont for their generosity and dedication to the safety and well-being of firefighters throughout the U.S. and Canada.”
The 2015 program will provide a total of 52 sets of turnout gear to 13 departments that demonstrate a need for gear. To be eligible to apply, 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, 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 Georgetown, Maine, Volunteer Fire Department provides fire and emergency medical services to their island community as well as several mutual aid communities on the mainland. The island population consists of approximately 1,200 year-round residents, with up to 3,000 in the summer. They also provide emergency medical services to many smaller island communities that can only be accessed by boat. In addition to responding to calls, Georgetown firefighters donate many hours to fundraising events, which accounts for about half of the department’s annual budget. Currently, they only have one set of gear that is less than 10 years old.
“The safety of our 30 volunteer firefighters is paramount… We need to have current, serviceable gear to handle any eventuality,” said firefighter Sharon Trabona. She added, “The donation of new gear would benefit our department and mutual aid communities greatly.”
The donation of gear from Globe, DuPont, and the NVFC will allow the department to welcome new recruits with new gear as they work to meet the needs of their community.
The North Fork Fire Protection District in Lemhi County, Idaho, is an all-volunteer department serving 34 square miles that are surrounded by the Salmon-Challis National Forest. With logging and mining no longer allowed in the forest, there are fewer employment opportunities and consequently fewer residents below retirement age remaining to serve as volunteer firefighters. The department has recently been actively recruiting new members to fill the positions being vacated. The department's budget for turnout gear has been exhausted by keeping the current members outfitted, and the few surplus sets are old and not the correct sizes for the new recruits, two of whom are the first women on the department. The four new sets of gear will be used to get these new recruits response-ready.
Additional awards will be made each month through December. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site, Dispatch newsletter, and page on Facebook, as well as the Globe page on Facebook, for additional award announcements and information 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 resources, training, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.
