Published: December 05, 2008 12:32 am      

Worthington VFD gets federal grant

$96,834 to be used to purchase breathing units and turnout gear

FAIRMONT — Every day area residents depend upon firefighters to provide assistance and protection.

Just as citizens depend on the firefighters, the firefighters must depend on their equipment to keep them safe while responding to calls.

One area fire department received a federal grant to help purchase new equipment. The Worthington Volunteer Fire Department received $96,834 in money from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, according to a written release from the office of Sen. Robert C. Byrd.

The grant requires a 5 percent local match from the fire department, said Jacob Thompson, deputy fire chief at the Worthington department. That equals $4,841.70.

“This money is very important because we wouldn’t be able to afford new gear without it,” Thompson said. “We wouldn’t be able to buy all of this in 15 years if we had to pay for it on our own.”

Thompson said the money would be used to purchase 14 sets of turnout gear and 13 self-contained breathing units.

Turnout gear is the term used for the clothing the firefighters use when responding to a situation —and is made up of such items as boots and helmets.

According to Thompson, the department badly needed to replace the equipment. He noted that around three-fourths of the breathing units used by Worthington firefighters were purchased used from a fire department in Pennsylvania.

“And we bought those about three years ago,” he said.

Thompson also noted that some of the Worthington firefighters are using turnout gear that is approximately 15 years old. He went on to say that the Worthington department responds to numerous calls throughout the county, which causes a lot of wear and tear on their gear.

Worthington Fire Chief Chris McIntire pointed out that the department had struggled to purchase gear for years. He noted that he and others would travel to flea markets to purchase gear on occasions.

“We would get hand-me-downs,” McIntire said. “Getting this money is critical to helping keep our guys safe.”

McIntire pointed out that the Worthington Department rarely receives grants. He noted that the department received a Assistance to Firefighters grant in 2002. However, the department struggled to come up with what was then a 10 percent match.

“It’s just really hard to come up with money in the fire service,” McIntire said.

He also pointed out that this is only the second time the department has received such a grant.

Byrd, along with Sen. Jay Rockefeller, jointly announced the grant award. The Assistance to Firefighters grant program will allocate around $500 million in fiscal year 2008 to fire departments and other emergency agencies around the country, according to a release from Byrd’s office.

The funds can be used to purchase response equipment, personal protection equipment or vehicles, the release reads.

“These grants, which support local fire departments and emergency medical services, will help make communities throughout West Virginia safer,” Byrd said in a release.

“First responders are the backbone of public safety, and with this much-needed grant, they will be better able to project the people of this community,” Rockefeller said in the release.

E-mail Paul Fallon at pfallon@timeswv.com.