Wednesday, Septembder 5, 2001
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Wednesday, Septembder 5, 2001 |
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Federal grant for Fayette will buy fire protection uniforms By JOHN
MUNFORD
The Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services has been awarded a national grant to purchase special uniforms that will add an extra layer of protection for local firefighters. The $75,000 grant from the U.S. Fire Administration will pay 90 percent of the costs for the new uniforms, which will serve as the fire personnel's regular duty uniforms, said Capt. Pete Nelms. The uniforms are made of a material called Nomex, which is flame-resistant. The safety measure will provide an extra layer of protection for the firefighters, Nelms said. The uniforms, which were specifically designed for firefighting use, will be worn under each firefighter's turnout gear, Nelms added. The uniforms will also help the department meet a personal protection guideline of the National Fire Protection Association. "Those are safety standards we all try to achieve," Nelms said. "We want to enhance the safety of our firefighting personnel and the public at all costs." Competition for the grant money was intense, Nelms said. Although all the grants haven't been awarded, the department was among 353 recipients named among over 19,000 grant applications submitted totalling almost $3 billion in requests. The uniforms will likely be acquired in the next month or two, Nelms said.
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