The Richton Park Fire Department recently was awarded a $135,620 federal grant that will be used to buy breathing equipment used by firefighters when they enter a burning or smoking building.
The equipment now in use was bought in 1998.
“The ones we are using have a life expectancy of 20 years and we are nearing that time span now,” Fire Chief Rodney Wilson said. “After applying for the grant two previous times, we were awarded a grant this year.”
The Assistance to Firefighters Grants program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Richton Park has 48 firefighters, including Wilson. The grant will pay for 23 new breathing units.
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