The Chancellor Community Fire Department received word last week that they have been awarded a grant for eight sets of new turn-out gear from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. Chancellor Fire Chief Jeb Ford said, “A grant like this will save taxpayers in our community over $12,000. This gear will last the department for over 10 years, and will replace several sets of gear that are over 20 years old. So, if you get a chance, head to Sioux Falls and eat a sub at one of their two Fire House Subs locations.”
In 2005, the Firehouse Subs founders established the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation with the mission of providing funding, life-saving equipment, and educational opportunities to first-responders and public safety organizations. Through the non-profit 501(c)(3), Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has granted more than $35 million to hometown heroes in 47 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, including more than $122,000 in South Dakota.
Ford, a retired Sioux Falls firefighter has been on Chancellor Fire since 2015 and during that time has applied for numerous grants. He has applied to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation before, but this year he said, they got lucky.
Turn-out gear includes the coat, pants and suspenders for one firefighter. Ford said that the most senior members on the department will get the new gear because they have the oldest gear in use. The Chancellor Fire Department has been upgrading their gear for the last couple of years. “The turn out gear will take about two months to get. We have to measure everyone and it gets tailor-made for each person. It will look like the gear we just ordered,” he said.
Chancellor Volunteer Fire Department consists of 27 members, which is typical of Volunteer Departments in the area, said Ford.
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