Brownstown Fire Department uses grant for new turnout gear

By Editor | January 29, 2014 |

Using a federal grant, the Brownstown Fire Department has replaced its firefighters’ aging turnout gear.

Dennis Kilzer, BFD first assistant chief, wrote the application for an Assistance to Firefighters grant offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The department was awarded a $63,395 matching grant, which required the BFD to chip in 5 percent to match the $60,226 award.
Kilzer said that with the grant funds, the department purchased 31 sets of turnout gear, including bunker pants, coats, suspenders, Nomex hoods and boots.
The purchase also included turnout gear for the department’s team of First Responders.
The turnout gear, which was delivered last week, replaces the gear that has been used since 2002.
The department also bought that gear with a FEMA grant, with that application also being prepared by Kilzer.
Kilzer said that the formerly used turnout gear will be kept by the department, with some to be used by probationary firefighters.
Some of the firefighters, mainly those living out in rural areas, will hang on to their old gear, keeping it their personal vehicles for use during calls in their area or for ones when they are a long distance from the fire station.

Tony Thomason of the Brownstown Fire Department and his wife Shelly, a BFD First Responder, model new turnout gear that the department purchased using a federal Assistance to Firefighters grant. Helmets like the one worn by Tony Thomason were purchased by the department several years ago with funds generated by its regular raffle.