The Grand Junction Fire Department has put into service new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) that were purchased under the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). This grant has been providing critical funding to fire departments across the nation since 2001 and has ensured that first responders are able to acquire funding for resources that are necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. An SCBA is used when firefighters encounter an oxygen deficient atmosphere that is immediately dangerous to life, or any environment that is unknown or has unknown levels of contaminants in the air.
The total grant award was $472,430.00 with a 10% City contribution match of $42,948.18. The grant was utilized for the replacement of all the department’s SCBA. This consisted of 66 air pack harnesses, 132 air bottles (45-minute bottles), 6 air bottles (60-minute bottles for the hazardous materials team), 130 breathing air masks, 1 rapid intervention pack (rescue pack), 130 mask adapters for N-100 particulate cartridges, and 130 N-100 filters. The N-100 filters will allow the department to use SCBA masks in the future in place of a N-95 or N-100 mask, should there be another shortage.
For more information contact the Community Outreach Office at GJFirePIO@gjcity.org or by phone at 970-549-5800.