The JSP Fire District has received a $176,000 federal grant to purchase 18 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) air packs, replacing equipment that has been in service for 16 years.
The district contributed $8,800 toward the grant, with the remaining funding provided through the federal award. The new equipment replaces aging air packs that have become increasingly difficult to maintain, with parts becoming harder to find and more than half of the district’s air bottles recently failing required testing and being taken out of service.
The grant was written by Nationwide First Responders Grant, marking the fourth successful grant application the organization has completed for JSP. Previous awards helped the district purchase a 3,000-gallon tanker, a new grass truck and extrication tools.
In addition to replacing aging equipment, the new air packs will allow each firefighter to have their own facepiece rather than sharing previously used equipment with other firefighters.
The air packs were purchased through Fire Safety Services of Huntsville, Ohio. The district also thanked salesman Brent Schmerge for his quick work in helping complete the project.
The new equipment was officially placed into service Thursday.
