New firefighting gear arrived in Gainesboro this week, some $70,000 worth of updated equipment as the result of a Tennessee Fire Marshals grant.
Assistant Chief Isaac Davis said the new gear replaces their previous 12-year old equipment, which was heavier and more cumbersome on volunteers. Davis said the kits include eight masks, eight air packs, and 16 air bottles.
“These new air packs has got upgraded safety features such as the FAST Alarms, carbon fiber bottles at 4500 PSI, which makes us one hundred percent compatible with with other departments inside Jackson County,” Davis said.
Davis said these upgrades gives the department compatibility with surrounding fire departments, enabling them to share air bottles in an emergency. Davis said the new carbon fiber equipment is safer and lighter than the all-steel air tanks used previously.
Davis said that the grant of some $129,000 saved taxpayers money and made them safer now that the department can work more efficiently.
“All this equipment has been bought with the grant money, so it’s cost no cost to the taxpayers for the town of Gainsboro,” Davis said.
Davis said the equipment will also aid in nighttime visibility of firefighters.
“All the stitching and the shoulder straps, the belt straps is reflective,” Davis said. “Being a smaller town, most of the time we’re, if we have an active structure fire going on or a car fire in town, we’re operating on the side of the road so it kind of helps our firefighters to be a bit more visible during nights on scene.”
The fire department received the shipment on Wednesday. On the same day, the department also selected eight volunteers to be fitted for new protective garments.
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