WASHINGTON — Each year, MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) partner to award volunteer fire departments much-needed personal protective equipment through MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. Since the program began in 2012, 663 sets of turnout gear have been donated to 147 departments. In 2023, an additional 13 volunteer fire departments will be selected to each receive four new sets of turnout gear and four new helmets. The first 500 applicants also received a one-year NVFC membership, courtesy of MSA.
The latest recipients of MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway are Potter (NE) Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department and Wasauksing (ON, Canada) Fire Department.
Potter Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department
The Potter Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department is located in rural, western Nebraska. The department is made up entirely of volunteers and serves 700 residents, as well as thousands of travelers, across 299 square miles. Included in the department’s response radius are two major highways, one of which accommodates over 4,800 heavy commercial vehicles per day, and two rail lines that often carry hazardous materials. In addition, 15 nearby departments rely on the Potter Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department for mutual aid.
The lack of adequate personal protective equipment has made it challenging for all volunteers to respond and help when needed. Members have been forced to sit on the sidelines not because they aren’t willing to help, but because their gear is too old and dangerous.
Being able to provide every member with the proper gear will make a significant difference in the department’s capabilities, says Chief Mark Onstott. “Each incident is different and may require all hands on deck to save life and property.”
Wasauksing Fire Department
Thirty-thousand islands surround Parry Sound in Ontario, Canada. Wasauksing Fire Department is located on one of them. The small, First Nation department consists of 16 members, 15 of which are volunteers. It averages 100 calls per year, serving a population of 420 in the off-season, and up to 1,500 during the on-season.
According to Chief Tyler Olmstead, the fire department is under-funded and under-equipped, relying on surrounding departments to stay afloat. The gear currently being used is damaged and more than 10 years old, which poses major safety concerns for training and real emergency situations.
However, Chief Olmstead is determined to make the small department self-sufficient, and this donation will help make that possible. “[This donation] will ensure that four of my firefighters will be covered for 10 years of gear life and can have that added level of safety while helping their neighbors.”
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.