News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Algood Fire Department set to purchase a special washer and dryer, designed specifically for fire gear, thanks to a new grant.
Algood Fire Chief David Judd said the turnout gear is made out of a material that will break a normal dryer. He said there are more and more firefighters getting cancer from chemicals left on their turnout gear from fires.
“These are special made gear washers and dryers that will help Algood Fire Department be more proactive in reducing the cancer agents that we are taking home,” Judd said.
The grant money will also be used to purchase five new sets of turnout gear. Judd said the department always needs more turnout gear because it only has a shelf life of ten years.
“We’re constantly going through recycling turnout gear,” Judd said. “After 10 years the product degrades, and it collects cancer-causing agents. So, every ten years we got to recycle through turnout gear.”
Judd said firefighter turnout gear is made up of three components an inner liner to protect from the heat of the fire, a moisture barrier that keeps chemicals and liquids from their skin and an outer puncture resistant Kevlar-mixed exterior.
Algood received a $39,000 grant through the Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program. The grant runs through the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance in collaboration with the State Fire Marshall’s Office.
“This is my first time dealing with this grant, so I’m not sure on a timeline,” Judd said. “It is coming. We are expecting the paperwork we’ll have to read over, there’s certain limitations, but we’ll get that signed then hopefully very soon we’ll have that new turnout gear in here.”
