Tampa Fire Department receives protective equipment
The 16 volunteer firefighters for Tampa Fire Department are proud of the new outfits they recently received.
Each man received two top/pants sets, a heavy one for fighting structure fires and a lighter one for fighting grass fires. In addition, each man received a new pair of boots, helmet, hood, gloves, and an air-pack mask.
The high-temperature hood covers the whole head except the eyes. The mask can be used during grass fires to filter out smoke and can be connected to an air tank for use in interior fires.
Fire chief Jesse Brunner said the new gear was made possible through a more than $19,000 federal grant and local fund-raising efforts.
The grant included 10 percent matching funds from the local fire department. To offset the fire department cost, community groups raised that amount and more to provide just under $4,000 additional money.
Groups who participated were: Lions Club, Sunflower Senior Citizens, and St. John's Lutheran Church. The Aid Association for Lutherans provided matching funds to those raised by the church.
Brunner said more than $21,000 was spent altogether, all for personal protective equipment.
"I really appreciate all the community support," he said. "We couldn't have gotten it done without the help of the local people."
