The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department has been awarded the Assistance to Firefighters Grant for $202,857.14. The City will contribute $10,142.86 totaling the grant project at $213,000. The department applied for the FEMA grant in October 2018 to pay for 30 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), a device worn by firefighters to provide breathable air in harmful environments. The department’s current SCBA are more than 13 years old, obsolete and out of compliance. The new equipment will be purchased prior to the end of this year.
“The health and safety of our first responders is vital to the protection of our community. We have been in need of new breathing apparatus for quite some time, but have delayed upgrades because of budget constraints,” said Fire Chief Ken Perkins.