Baxter Looking To Purchase Equipment For Fire Department

Baxter Fire Department has received a $50,000 grant from FEMA to purchase new equipment.

Chief Matthew White said the funding will help them purchase an air compressor to fill oxygen tanks after use.

“We use it quite frequently,” White said. “Every time we put an air pack on and we go out and breathe them in inside of a house or wear them, we have to refill it. So we either have to go somewhere and do that with someone who has one. So it’s going to help our needs by not going anywhere, we can refill them in-house, the middle of the night, whenever we need it.”

White said the grant requires a five percent match. He said along with the equipment, there will have to be additional electric work for the fuse where the compressor will sit.

White said they had looked at contract buying, but FEMA regulations indicate bidding out for the compressor will be simpler.

“We feel like that is going to be an easy thing to do,” White said. “And it will be well worth the money in the long run.”