The Reading Fire Department was awarded more than $267,000 through the FY 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program which is funded by Department of Homeland Security. The grant funded the purchase of new MSA G1 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). SCBAs provide firefighters with a portable air supply, allowing them to safely operate in environments that are dangerous for firefighters, including structure fires, oxygen deficient atmospheres, and other emergencies where the air is unsafe to breathe.
Over the past several months, department members dedicated countless hours to training and familiarization, ensuring competency with the new equipment before it was placed on the trucks. Training included classroom instruction, hands-on drills, emergency procedures, and operational scenarios designed to prepare firefighters for real-world emergencies.
This past week, crews continued their training at the Reading Fire Department training site, utilizing the new MSA G1 SCBAs during live fire evolutions. These realistic training scenarios allow firefighters to build confidence and proficiency with their equipment under the same challenging conditions they may encounter on emergency incidents.
The Reading Fire Department would like to thank the members who dedicated significant time and effort to researching, evaluating, and developing the specifications for the new SCBA program, as well as completing the Assistance to Firefighters Grant application that made this project possible. We would also like to thank Vogelpohl Fire Equipment for their support throughout the purchasing, training, and implementation process.
Photos courtesy of Fire House Photography.
