SHERBURNE – The Sherburne Fire Department was recently awarded $99,484 from the Assistance to Firefighters grant program that is run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funds will be used to purchase 22 self contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA), also known as air packs.
“These funds are absolutely critical to the Sherburne Fire Department,” said U.S. Representative Richard Hanna, who wrote to FEMA in support of the grant application. “This is wonderful news for the department and the community. We must ensure both our firefighters, and the communities they serve, are kept safe. This grant funding will help do just that.”
Jansen Casscles, Assistant Fire Chief, is happy the department has received the grant, which will be very helpful for the department and taxpayers.
“We pride ourselves on providing a high quality service,” he said. “This is almost a six digit figure that now offsets cost for local taxpayers.”
He explained that 95 percent of the cost of the air packs is covered by the grant, with only $5,400 to come out of the department’s budget.
The air packs are a necessary part of firefighting, explained Casscles. Each seat in a fire truck must have one. Roughly the size of a backpack, the air packs weigh approximately 25 pounds each. They contain compressed air with an attached mask so firefighters can receive enough oxygen while inside the interior of a fire. The air packs are reusable and have a 15 year life span.
