Thanks in part to grant funding, Suffield Township firefighters now have better gear with which to do their jobs.
The department recently was able to purchase 30 new sets of turnout gear and a new 600-foot hose. In addition to a $15,793 grant from Energy Transfer, an Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation grant and funding from the department’s operating budget was used to purchase the gear.
“Everybody on staff now has fully code-compliant protective gear,” Suffield Fire Chief Bob Rasnick said.
According Rasnick, it costs a total of $2,987 to outfit a firefighter with a coat, pants, boots, gloves, hood and helmet. With shipping costs, that amounts to more than $3,000 per set. Rasnick said that a set of turnout gear may only be used for up to 10 years. After that, the National Fire Protection Association requires that it be replaced. Movements, like bending an elbow repeatedly, breaks down the thermal protection.