For members of the Lyons Fire Department, the announcement of a six-figure federal grant could not have come at a better time.
The $170,953 in funding was announced last week by U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. The Lyons FD will use the funds to buy new self-contained breathing apparatus, commonly known as air packs.
“We were looking at replacing some with our own funds when the grant came through,” said Jeff Rios, past chief, who was involved in applying for the grant with several other Lyons firefighters.
Rios said the department has applied for a federal grant for the last several years, with no success, and used a grant writer this time around. The department plans on buying 25 new air packs with 50 bottles, and a Rapid Intervention Team pack.
Rios said the bottles have a 15-year life expectancy.
“We’ve got some of our bottles now that are near the end of their cycle,” he said.