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Flossmoor fire department gets federal grant for emergency equipment

The Flossmoor Fire Department was awarded a $222,345 federal grant to purchase updated emergency breathing equipment that will make firefighters safer when entering burning buildings. 
 
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant was announced by Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill. The grant program will help strengthen the nation’s overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and related hazards. 
 
The federal investment will allow Flossmoor to purchase state-of-the-art air packs that will replace the department’s nearly two-decades-old breathing equipment, considered obsolete by federal requirements. 
 
“I’d like to thank Congresswoman Kelly for supporting and helping Flossmoor successfully obtain an Assistance to Firefighters Grant,” said Fire Chief Christopher Sewell. “Especially given current research on firefighter occupational disease — devastating cancers, cardiac and lung disease — due to exposure to carcinogens and toxic gases when firefighting, these air packs are vital in protecting the health and safety of firefighters. 
 
“Having new air packs will give our firefighters the tools they need to help save the lives of others by employing new thermal imaging technologies, the ability to share breathing air with one another should a firefighter begin to run out of air, and a host of other technology advancement that improve firefighter safety.”
 
With Kelly’s help, South Holland, Crete and Calumet City fire departments also were awarded the Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

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