The Gerald-Rosebud Fire Protection District recently received a $104,000 grant from FEMA through its Assistance to Firefighters program. The district was required to provide matching funds of $8,000 to purchase 28 sets of turnout gear.

For years and years the department has tried to raise the money to purchase new gear at a cost of $4,500 per set. Each set includes boots, a coat, suspenders and a helmet and has a 10 year life span.

In some cases, the new gear will be the second set for some of the firemen. This is important because the gear must be cleaned of carcinogens after exposure in a gear extractor. The process to clean the gear can take up to a full day, meaning the firefighter is out of service during that time. The second set of gear can keep the firemen working multiple calls in one day.

The City of St. Charles Fire Department donated a second gear extractor to the local department. This will reduce the time required to clean the gear in half. The estimated value of the extractor is $7,000. The current gear extractor is located at Station 3 in Rosebud. The second one will be placed in Station 2 in Gerald.

Capt. Hayden Schoenfeld wrote the grant application and arranged for the gear extraction donation.