The Bakersfield Californian
KERN COUNTY, Calif. — The Kern County Fire Department received a $200,000 donation from Rio Tinto U.S. Borax to support firefighter health and safety during Tuesday’s Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting.
“The demands on our firefighters — both physically and mentally — are greater than ever,” Fire Chief Aaron Duncan said in a statement on Wednesday. “At the Kern County Fire Department, the health and well-being of our team is our highest priority. This generous donation will play a vital role in ensuring our firefighters have the resources they need to stay strong, both on and off the job.”
The money is slated to go toward equipment to reduce exposure to cancer-causing materials and support for KCFD’s Critical Incident Stress Management program.
The $200,000 for KCFD is part of a larger $600,00 total donation from Rio Tinto U.S. Borax, which also gave $200,000 each to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and Los Angeles Food Bank for disaster response and recovery.
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