As part of Globe’s 125th anniversary celebration, Globe, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Dupont are awarding fire departments in need with sets of Globe turnout gear. Recipients are being announced each month through December. In the second round of grants, four departments have been selected.
Loyalton Fire Department will receive 12 sets of turnout gear for their members. “I would like to thank Globe for this generous opportunity,” said Chief Shawn Haywood of the donation program. “This is a unique opportunity for departments like ours that cannot afford such gear.”
Located in Northern California, Loyalton is a small, close-knit town that struggles to fund their local fire department. The department only has enough budget to cover basic expenses for their two firehouses. Members often have to spend their own money for training and equipment, and fundraising efforts don’t raise enough to purchase gear. The gear they do have is a mixture of donations from other departments and are long past their safe lifespan.
“We are happy to have used donated gear, but when the safety of our dedicated individuals is at stake it becomes very concerning,” noted Haywood. “Our volunteers dedicate so much of their time, money, and energy to help serve our community, and I cannot think of a more deserving group of individuals to wear Globe’s superior turnouts.”
Three fire departments in Pennsylvania will each receive four sets of gear. They are Dunnstown Volunteer Fire Company, Mapleton Fire Department, and Upper Black Eddy Volunteer Fire Company #1.
Dunnstown Volunteer Fire Company, which serves Woodward and Colebrook Townships, is funded entirely through fundraisers. Members spend a great deal of time conducting events such as bingo, an annual Sportsman Day, Riverfest, Regatta, an annual fund drive, renting the hall for meals, and other smaller fundraising activities. Despite these efforts, the department is struggling to meet rising operational and administrative costs in a difficult economy. The donation of four sets of turnout gear will be used to outfit newer members who were previously wearing gear that did not come close to meeting NFPA standards.
“This will provide a safer environment for the newer members and be a benefit to the operational safety on the fireground,” said Richard Scheesley of the Dunnstown Volunteer Fire Company. “The new gear would also ensure delivery of a well-equipped team to do fire suppression and rapid intervention within our first due and neighboring communities and counties.”
Located in Mapleton Depot, the Mapleton Fire Department consists of a dedicated group of individuals that are very active in their community. In addition to responding to emergencies, department members conduct a wide range of fire prevention activities, participate in holiday and historical events, work with civic groups and local schools, perform various public service related functions, have an active junior firefighter program, and dedicate countless hours to training. In addition, the department is responsible for establishing water rescue teams in their county.
Like many volunteer departments across the country, Mapleton survives on just enough funding to meet monthly expenses, without any extra money available for much-needed resources and gear. “I would like to thank Globe, Dupont, and the National Volunteer Fire Council for the very generous donation of 125 sets of turnout gear to the volunteer fire service,” said Firefighter/EMT Steve Snare. “It is a huge game changer in a small department such as ours.”
In the past several years, Upper Black Eddy Volunteer Fire Company #1 has protected their community through a string of severe weather events, including three major floods and two major snowstorms. The department suffered another loss when their tanker was totaled in a horrible accident. Through it all, the dedicated firefighters are committed to improving the safety of their community and conduct numerous fire prevention and safety initiatives. After a recent fatal fire, the department teamed up with the county to provide residents with a free smoke alarm installation program, with the county supplying the detectors and the department volunteering the manpower.
The department is working to recruit new members, but funding remains a constant challenge. Without any funds to outfit new members, some firefighters are forced to share gear during training drills and others respond to incidents in gear more than 20 years old. The four sets of gear received through this donation will help the department work towards its goal of providing all of its firefighters with the proper protection they need to safely and effectively serve their community.
In all, Globe will be giving away 125 sets of gear this year. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for the next round of announcements. Click here for more information about the gear donation program and to learn about the first round of recipients.
About Globe
Globe is the largest and most trusted manufacturer of structural firesuits in the world. Over the years, Globe has been responsible for introducing many of the materials, designs, and construction methods we now take for granted in firefighter suits. Globe was the first manufacturer in the fire service to use DuPont NOMEX® inherently flame resistant materials. Learn more at www.globeturnoutgear.com.
About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.
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 invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.