A $600,000 regional federal grant just awarded to Marysville Fire District and Granite Falls Fire Department will help secure needed tools to protect firefighters working to keep our communities safe.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) will be used to purchase 83 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), 76 SCBA masks and 10 rapid intervention team (RIT) packs, which are used to quickly provide breathable air to a firefighter in distress.

“These tools are vital in protecting our firefighters so they can respond when our community needs them most,” Fire Chief Martin McFalls said. “We are extremely grateful for this award. It helps alleviate the burden on our taxpayers to fund these necessary but costly items.”

Costs for SCBAs alone can top $9,000 each. SCBAs are a lifeline to firefighters, providing air in dangerous situations such as fires, where breathing smoke could be deadly. These units must be replaced every 15 years at a minimum.

The AFG program is designed to help firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. To receive this grant, both agencies had to demonstrate a clear need for the funding and how the award would reduce deaths, injuries and property damage in our community. This is one of several AFG grants awarded to Marysville Fire over the last decade.

Marysville Fire District is already planning for the future. A dedicated fund will be set up to cover subsequent SCBA replacements.