Summerdale Fire and Rescue has been awarded a $115,990 grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.

The AFG program, established in 2001, aims to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. It provides essential funding for critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for safeguarding the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

"This award is in the amount of $115,990 and will be utilized to purchase new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), face masks for the SCBA's, and outfitting two of our service vehicles with Automated External Defibrillators (AED) and LUCAS Chest Compression System devices," Summerdale Fire and Rescue said in a statement.

According to the department, this equipment will create a safer environment for the firefighters when entering immediately dangerous areas, such as burning buildings and hazardous materials incidents. Additionally, the AEDs and LUCAS Chest Compression Systems will deliver faster, more efficient pre-hospital care to patients experiencing medical emergencies.