Walker Lake Volunteer Fire Department recently received the 2016 Globe Gear Giveaway, which will give the department four sets of new, state-of-the-art turnout gear.
To be eligible for the new turnout gear, the departments had to be all-volunteer or mostly-volunteer, serve a population of 25,000 or less, demonstrate a need for the gear and be a member of the National Volunteer Fire Council.
The volunteer fire department at Walker Lake is a 12-volunteer organization with firefighters responding within a 50-square-mile service area. They reported to globe that their gear is over 10 years old, some 20 years old. It was explained that during a training exercise, the knee area of one of the firefighter’s set failed.
That failure led to an investigation showing that the 10 oldest sets had started to break down.
“The department has a small budget that is supplemented through monthly fundraisers, but they are unable to afford new turnout gear without cutting back on other department operation,” the statement from Globe stated.
“With these new, up-to-date turnouts, we will be able to better protect our community,” said Fire Chief Adam Greenfield. “We will also be able to keep our firefighters safer as they perform interior attacks. We greatly appreciate this donation.”
