Jackson County Central Fire Gets New Breathing Equipment Thanks to Grant

The Jackson County Central Fire Department are the proud new owners of some new equipment purchased through a grant.

The new equipment was purchased with the help of a Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Grant. Jackson County Central Fire Chief Jeff Conn said they would not have been able to afford the new equipment without the grant.

“Each apparatus with the extra bottle and mask cost close to $10,000 a piece currently, so its really hard to buy that out of pocket,” Conn said. “We are a 100 percent volunteer fire department, so we rely on grants like this to be able to get this new equipment.”

The New Scott SCBA breathing apparatuses are used to protect firefighters lungs from smoke and debris in structural fires or car fires. Conn said the new breathing equipment is an upgrade, replacing equipment purchased back in 2009.

“Its lighter,” Conn said. “Its more cutting edge. Its going to be a lot safer for us in the long run.”

The new equipment was purchased with a grant set up to help rural and struggling fire departments purchase the equipment they need.