Palatine Rural Fire District receives grant

The Palatine Rural Fire Protection District has been awarded a $110,661 grant by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant program for replacement of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus.

This grant will allow Palatine Rural to purchase 15 new SCBAs that will include a high pressure cylinder, breathing regulator, harness, full face piece with a heads up display and a spare cylinder. The grant also includes one Rapid Intervention Team pack with cylinder.

The new SCBA will have several integrated safety features that were not available on the older equipment being replaced.

SCBAs provide breathable air for firefighters when they are fighting structure fires, or any other time they are exposed to a hazardous environment. SCBA also provide protection from a multitude of other respiratory exposures that have been linked to cancer.

The new SCBA will help the district maintain standardization with "RPM" (Rural, Village of Palatine, and Rolling Meadows) partner departments, who have purchased similar SCBA. Purchasing comparable equipment enhances the district's commitment to both operational efficiency and the safety of personnel.

"This federal grant will allow the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District to purchase new air packs for their firefighters, and will help insure that when fires or other emergencies occur in their community, those firefighters have the equipment they need to help protect them, as they protect us," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program is managed by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency. Grants are awarded through a competitive process to fire departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations and state fire training academies.

The funding is aimed at helping the entities enhance their ability to handle hazards efficiently and effectively.

"The Palatine Rural Fire Protection District is very grateful to receive this award, and our firefighters will greatly benefit from the new equipment and technology this grant will provide," said Hank Clemmensen, fire chief.