The Galion Fire & EMS Department has been awarded $133,334 in Federal grant funding in order to purchase replacement equipment. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A funding notice from FEMA was received Sept. 14, stating: “The purpose of the Assistance to Firefighters Program is to protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards.” The department will purchase 20 new SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) packs and oxygen bottles. Currently, the newest packs used by Galion firefighters were manufactured in 2002. All of the bottles are at the end of their useful life and were scheduled to be replaced with or without grant assistance.