PRESS RELEASE
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania – Salem Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was able to purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for its firefighters with state funding Rep. Mike Cabell (R-Luzerne) helped to secure. The $106,740 grant was awarded through a program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
“The department has applied for this funding for the past several years, with no success. So, I was more than happy to help with its grant request this time around,” said Cabell. “Because of the department’s current fiscal constraints and the high cost of firefighting equipment, this purchase would not have been possible without the state support.”
Cabell joined members of the fire department Saturday in inspecting the 12 SCBA, which replace 20-year-old units, some of which were obsolete. SCBA allow firefighters to breathe during an emergency response and are critical pieces of equipment.
Salem Township has about 4,000 residents and is home to Talen Energy, which operates two nuclear reactors on its campus.
“Getting these new air packs was very important for the protection of our firefighters, along with the industry and residents we serve,” Fire Chief Lee Smith said.
“There’s no way they would’ve been able to afford it,” added Salem Township Supervisor John Fogg Jr., who also serves as a volunteer firefighter with the department and is a former fire chief.
