By GARETT VALCOURT
The Ponce de Leon Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department has been awarded more than $64,000 through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to purchase a new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Fill System, an essential tool for firefighter safety.
The grant, written by Didi of Gatchell Grant Resources, LLC, will fund the acquisition of the new SCBA Fill System, which enables firefighters to safely and efficiently refill the air bottles used in their breathing apparatus. These air bottles supply the clean, breathable air firefighters depend on when working in hazardous conditions such as active fires, chemical incidents, and confined spaces.
“This grant ensures our firefighters have the resources they need to continue protecting life and property while maintaining the highest standards of safety,” the department said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful to FEMA and the AFG program for making this investment possible.”
The department emphasized that the new equipment will improve emergency response efficiency and enhance safety for both firefighters and the community they serve.
