The Seven Hills Fire Department was recently awarded a $11,970 Workers’ Compensation Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements Grant to purchase 84 Gore particulate hoods and 84 Pro-Tech fusion gloves.
As part of the grant, the city is responsible for $2,394 of the total $14,364 expenditure.
“It’s great news for the city of Seven Hills,” Seven Hill City Council President Anthony D. Biasiotta said. “Firefighter Joe Simerale put in for the grant earlier this year. He did the research after discovering our firefighter Bob Perko, who also is the chief for University Hospitals, got the grant earlier in the year (for the hospital system). “It frees up almost $12,000 of taxpayer money that can be used for other firefighting supplies or expenditures in general.”
Simerale said the hoods provide protection against cancer-causing particulates often experienced in fires.