Many volunteer fire departments struggle to obtain adequate personal protective equipment for their members. This is why MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have partnered since 2012 to donate new gear to departments in need through MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. In 2023, 13 volunteer fire departments will be selected to receive four new sets of turnout gear and four new helmets each. The first 500 applicants also received a one-year NVFC membership, courtesy of MSA.
Avoca (TX) Volunteer Fire Department and LeContes Mills Volunteer Fire Company (Frenchville, PA) are the latest departments to receive the gear.
Avoca Volunteer Fire Department
The Avoca Volunteer Fire Department is a new department formed to protect 100 square miles of sprawling farmland in northern Texas. The community consists of 60 houses, many of which are abandoned, as well as two churches, two schools, and a cotton gin. While the core community consists of about 100 people, there are roughly 3,600 residents in the larger and growing response area.
Last year, Avoca experienced a disastrous fire on St. Patrick’s Day. It wiped out four houses while residents waited over an hour for surrounding community departments to respond. The community subsequently came together to form its own volunteer fire department to prevent such a devastating loss from happening again. However, the department needs gear and equipment in order to provide fire response in its service area.
“We are a newly established department,” said Chief Victor Kimbrough. “This [giveaway] is our only chance to bring life and some hope into this community.”
LeContes Mills Volunteer Fire Company
Made up entirely of volunteers, the LeContes Mills Volunteer Fire Company serves the small, rural town of Frenchville, PA. Overseeing an area of over 500 square miles, the department mostly responds to building fires but also handles brush fires and search-and-rescue missions in the surrounding mountainous and wooded terrain.
Since the department’s formation in 1976, it has never been able to afford new turnout gear for its members. Nearby departments have passed down old gear, but it is all over 10 years old, posing serious safety risks to the firefighters. And, as the threat of lithium-ion battery emergencies grows due to an increase in electric vehicles in the community, having proper protection is more critical than ever.
When asked what it means to the department to receive new gear, member Mary Kerstetter answered, “Not only does this enhance [the] protection of our volunteer firefighters at fires, but [it allows] our fire company to do a better job of protecting [the] homes of our residents, property, and our entire community.”
Additional awards will be made monthly throughout 2023. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site, Dispatch enewsletter, and Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as the Globe Facebook page, for additional information and announcements.
About Globe Manufacturing Company and MSA Safety
Globe Manufacturing Company, a leader in fire service protective clothing, is a subsidiary of MSA Safety Incorporated. Established in 1914, MSA Safety Incorporated is the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products and solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures. Many MSA products integrate a combination of electronics, software, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive product line is used by workers around the world in a broad range of markets, including fire service, the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, construction, industrial manufacturing applications, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, utilities, mining and the military. MSA's core products include self-contained breathing apparatus, fixed gas and flame detection systems, portable gas detection instruments, industrial head protection products, firefighter helmets and protective apparel, and fall protection devices. With 2022 revenues of $1.5 billion, MSA employs approximately 5,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered north of Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township, Pa., and has manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. With more than 40 international locations, MSA realizes approximately half of its revenue from outside North America. For more information visit MSA's web site at www.MSAsafety.com.
About DuPont Personal Protection
From first responders to industrial workers, DuPont provides a wide range of personal protection solutions, including some of the most trusted and innovative brands in the industry, such as Kevlar®, Nomex®, Tyvek® and Tychem® to meet your safety needs. More information can be found at personalprotection.dupont.com.
About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, healthcare and worker safety. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com.
DuPont™, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all products, unless otherwise noted, denoted with ™, ℠ or ® are trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
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 critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.
