Prospect Heights fire receives grant for protective equipment
The Prospect Heights Fire Protection District announced this week that is has received a $26,000 grant from the Illinois State Fire Marshal to assist with the purchase of firefighting protective turnout gear.
The district is in the process of replacing 55 sets of firefighting protective turnout gear, due to the fact that the current protective gear is approximately 10 years old and required to be replaced to meet safety standards. The replacement of all 55 sets of protective turnout gear is estimated to cost $130,000.
Protective clothing is critical for firefighters as it is used daily to safely attack fires, accomplish rescues of trapped and injured victims and protect firefighters from a variety of weather conditions faced throughout the year, the district said.
The district was among 193 fire departments throughout the state to receive a total of $4 million in grants from the fire marshal's office.