Smithfield Fire Chief John Blanton has received approval from the Smithfield Town Council to apply for a $419,953 grant to replace aging equipment.
If awarded, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) would be used to replace air packs the firefighters wear plus an old air compressor used to refill the air packs. The air packs are more than 14 years old.
If approved, the $419,953 federal grant would cover 95 percent of the cost. The Town of Smithfield would only be responsible for the remaining 5 percent or $20,997.
Chief Blanton said it could take between 6 and 10 months before the department learns if the grant has been approved. If the fire department doesn’t receive the grant, Blanton said the equipment will have to be purchased in the very near future because the air packs will no longer meet safety compliance regulations.
“At the end of 2018, one half of our air packs will fall non-compliant and must be purchased. At the end of 2019, the remainder of our department air packs will be non-compliant,” Blanton said in a report to the Town Council.
