For Release: 09/10/2019
Area fire departments receive Rewarding Responders Grants to improve safety
Monroe – Three southern Michigan fire departments are getting new safety equipment this fall thanks to grants from Michigan Gas Utilities (MGU).
The Coldwater Fire Department, Hillsdale City Fire Department and the Dundee Township Fire Department were recently awarded Rewarding Responders Grants. MGU offers the grants to help emergency response agencies improve public safety in their communities.
"We are incredibly pleased to receive this grant, as it will allow us to purchase equipment that normally would not have been covered by our budget," said Dave Schmaltz, fire chief – Coldwater Fire Department. "Firefighting nozzles might not seem significant, but every little cog in the wheel allows us to operate and keep our community safe."
Lifesaving equipment being purchased with this year’s grants includes:
- Coldwater Fire Department – new firefighting nozzles
- Hillsdale City Fire Department – forcible entry tools
- Dundee Township Fire Department – new gas detection monitors
MGU prioritizes the safety of its employees and the communities it serves each day. By supporting local public safety response agencies with the Rewarding Responders Grant, the company continues its commitment to those goals.
Since the grant's inception in 2015, MGU has donated nearly $40,000 to help first responders purchase numerous pieces of equipment, such as water rescue craft, thermal imaging cameras and firefighting helmets.
To be eligible for a Rewarding Responders Grant, emergency response agencies must operate in the MGU service area and demonstrate the equipment or training they will acquire is part of a well-planned effort to improve public safety. Grants also may be used to fund safety-related projects that are unique, one-time efforts.
More information about the grant can be found on the MGU website.
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