The Johnston Fire Department beat heavy odds on Monday as it scored what many Johnston firefighters called a “huge historic first.” The department was awarded an $180,000 grant from FEMA that resulted in 66 sets of new state-of-the-art turnout gear, which Chief Peter Lamb said will “be a huge help for the taxpayers of Johnston.” The grant – which was announced to many on-duty Johnston firefighters Monday inside the department’s headquarters on 1521 Atwood Ave. – placed the department in a unique category that FEMA Fire Program Specialist David L. Parr said began “with 10,000 applications from all over the country that were then narrowed down to 2,000 for final judging.” That’s where Johnston Fire Lt. Will Fish, Lt. Craig Stevens and Lt. Paul Livoli shined, especially since they made up the department’s Grant Committee that also included Lamb. “The bidding for the grants was very, very competitive,” said Parr, who directs FEMA’s Region One Grants Program.