Fire Fighters Win Battle for Federal Funds

Firefighters risk their lives on a daily basis, but sometimes those departments also have to fight for much-needed funds. One local fire district got a big federal financial boost but continued to flip flapjacks to raise even more money. As soon as you walk into the Dekalb Community Center you can smell the sizzling sausage, piping hot coffee and fluffy pancakes. If you look closer, you`d see that the men and women of the Dekalb Fire Protection District are serving up the hot cakes. They`re raising money for their department`s special fund. About 200 people came to the pancake fundraiser which raised about five-hundred dollars for the department. Almost everyone who came was also there to do more than pass the syrup. They came to check out $58,500 worth of new equipment. Matt Westrich proudly showed off that new equipment which was bought with a federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant. Westrich said, "It`s going to help save lives at some point but right now it`s going to help us do our jobs better. It will keep us safe so we can keep the community safe." The grant money was spent on everything from a large diameter hose for water supply, 24 complete sets of personal protective equipment, as well as the most prized purchase a thermal imaging camera. The camera can be used to find someone who`s lost or trapped in a fire or it can pinpoint the cause of a blaze. Westrich said, "We`ve been equipped for quite a while but it`s just a matter of trying to stay ahead of the times. This definetly has put us in the 21st century so to speak, but there`s always room for improvement." He says several more successful fundraisers will help the department afford even more improvements.