In January 2018, members of the Gladstone Volunteer Fire Department began seeking funding to acquire a means to properly wash and decontaminate their department issued fire gear.
Funding was eventually secured through various grants throughout the area. Grant money was awarded through Enbridge, TransCanada, and Plains Pipeline Groups. A generous donation was also received from OSF Healthcare. Additional monies were generated through Gladstone Volunteer Fire Department's annual 4th of July French Fry Sale as well as their annual golf tournament.
With all of these funds, a PPE washer/extractor was purchased in December 2018 from Groves Ready Rack, located in Woodstock, Illinois. The washer/extractor was recently installed in the fire hall at Gladstone Public Safety.
The washer/extractor is compliant with National Fire Protection Agency Standard 1851, which states "Organizations shall provide a means for having ensemble elements cleaned and decontaminated". This NFPA standard is designed to combat the risk factors that firefighting personnel are exposed to on a daily basis.