The Suffield Fire Department has received a $48,647 federal grant to pay for protective gear for firefighters.
Chief Thomas Bellmore said Monday that the department would buy 25 sets of coats and pants, a heavy duty washing machine for the gear and a vapor barrier testing device.
Bellmore said testing of the inner lining of the firefighters' gear, which is the vapor barrier, requires mandatory testing every three years. Buying the testing device for the department will save money instead of hiring a contractor to test the gear.
The washing machine, called an extractor, spins faster than a normal washing machine to squeeze all the moisture out of the protective gear firefighters wear. The gear can't be put in a dryer, Bellmore said.
"This is a good grant for us," Bellmore said. "We need the equipment. It's something that's mandated for the safety of the firefighters."
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant, administered by the Department of Homeland Security, provides money to fire departments to help pay for safety equipment. Several other departments in the state have also received grants.
— Shawn R. Beals