La Grange Fire Department is slated to receive a $122,000 grant to purchase equipment designed to help firefighters breathe as they battle blazes.
The Village Board unanimously approved Monday moving forward with the purchase of new self-contained breathing apparatus. The device is used by rescue workers and firefighters and to receive breathable air in hostile environments.
The funds are provided through the Department of Homeland Security, Assistance to Firefighters grant program. The grant will pay about $122,000 of the cost and the village will pay about $7,000, for a total cost of about $129,000.
The existing equipment is about 15 years old and the end of its useful life, said Fire Chief Donald J. Gay.
"We're starting to lose [function] of some of air bottles. They're being marked out of service," he said.
The Fire Department conducted a bidding process in which Air One Inc. of Elgin was the lowest bidder. Another bid was for about $185,000 and the third came in at about $132,000.
Gay said the equipment selected has other benefits to the department. The equipment is familiar to firefighters who have used similar equipment for the last 45 years. It also is light weight, offers lumbar support, and the contractor provides on-site visits to check the equipment
Gay said a committee helped put together the application for the grant, which they had not received on prior attempts.
"We decided to give it one more try," he said.
Village Board member Bill Holder praise the department for making the effort to secure the grant, and said he also is familiar with the equipment and believes the department has selected the top of the line.