PHOTO: The Avra Valley Fire District received a $5,000 grant from the Bayer Fund, which will be used to purchase new wildland fire protective gear and equipment.
The equipment will greatly aid the district’s firefighters, who handle many calls in rural areas on the northwest side and also respond to wildland fires in the Western United States, said Chief Ray Klein.
The new clothing and equipment are part of the National Fire Protection Association’s safety standards and will help the Avra Valley Fire District maintain the organization’s standards.
The fire district was established in 1977 and its four stations provide fire coverage to a 260-square-mile radius for fire protection and a 325-square-mile radius for ambulance coverage in Pima and Pinal counties. The district handles about 2,200 emergency calls each year.