STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) – FEMA has announced that the Stevens Point Fire Department has been awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG).
The grant will be used to upgrade the department’s Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) equipment, which aids in protecting firefighter’s airways and lungs from toxic gases. The department’s SCBA equipment has not been upgraded since 2009, and it is recommended that the equipment be replaced every 15 years.
Modern SCBAs feature buddy breathing capabilities and Bluetooth radio connections. They also include a rechargeable battery, which will greatly reduce the need for battery purchases and disposal.
The bulk of the country’s fire departments submit grant applications, making the AFG grant given out by FEMA a highly competitive process. It’s thrilling that the department’s efforts to draft the finest grant possible have paid off, according to Assistant Chief Dennis Zvara, who explained how much time and attention was put into it.
The grant is worth $228,750 and the city will be responsible for just under $23,00 of the total cost.
The Department has received other FEMA grants in past years, but this will be the largest grant ever received.
