KOUTS — Firefighters will be able to turn in their more than a decade-old gear for new equipment after being awarded a grant.
The Kouts Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $2,500 which will go toward getting new equipment.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to help equip our local fire departments,” said Jamie Honchar, plant manager at Georgia-Pacific’s Wheatfield Gypsum facility. “These grants express our thanks for their commitment to the people they serve.”
More than 30 other fire departments were awarded a Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade grant this year. In total for 2019, the program awarded more than $190,000 in grants for equipment critical to firefighters’ safety.
The Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade program began in 2006, which has donated $2.75 million to hundreds of fire departments across the country.
The Kouts Volunteer Fire Department intends to replace personal protective equipment that is older than a decade, which is a safety lifespan set by the National Fire Protection Association. Each set costs more than $2,000 to purchase, according to the fire department.
“Out of 30 sets of front-line bunker gear, only 20 sets are newer than 10 years old,” said Lieutenant Kevin Salyer. “This grant will help us to respond with properly equipped firefighters on every call.”
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