The Canton Fire Department has been awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Department of Homeland Security. The grant award, which will be used to replace the department's self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), is in the amount of $198, 990. The federal share of the award is $189,515 while the local match is $9,475. The current SCBA are 15 years old and are considered obsolete by FEMA due to changes in technology and applicable standards. The SCBA is what firefighters wear into hazardous atmospheres to allow them to breathe clean air and are vital in the performance of our duties and to the safety of our members. The grant funds will replace all our SCBA including air tanks and new masks. We apply for these types of grants often to help reduce the burden on local taxpayers for purchase of these expensive but necessary pieces of equipment.
