JASPER COUNTY, Texas — Jasper County fire crews endured one of the worst wildfire seasons in Texas history, while working with outdated equipment.
Now, thanks to FEMA, Jasper County Emergency Service District 4 is getting a breath of fresh air.
ESD 4 got over half a million dollars worth of new equipment. Five departments will benefit from what is being called The Assistance to Firefighters Grant.
"The facemasks were scratched. They were just used and worn," said Lake Rayburn Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Brett Clark.
Clark, along with the rest of the firefighters in ESD 4, is ready to use the brand new equipment.
"It's going to keep everybody safer, which keeps our community safer," Clark said.
Beech Grove Fire Chief James Gunter says they got the half a million dollar Assistance to Firefighters Grant from FEMA in the beginning of 2023.
"Because of last summer's wildfire season, we haven't been able to go through the process to evaluate and make the actual purchase," said Gunter.
Gunter says the new oxygen packs are essential when battling blazes. It's known as a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
"The life expectancy of an SCBA is 15 years. We were five years past due getting new breathing apparatuses," Gunter said.
In addition to 60 new breathing units, all ESD 4 departments now have new masks, batteries and even hoses.
Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department Chief Joe Morgan and firefighter Paul Rutledge say different brands and different sizes of SCBAs can complicate things when several departments respond to a call.
"All the bottles are the same. All the packs are the same. All the masks are the same. So if something's defective with your pack or you're out of air on your truck, you can get it off of another truck and still keep operations going at the fire scene," said Rutledge.
This team of volunteer firefighters are better prepared than ever to face a familiar foe.
Gunter says training on the new gear for all departments in the district will be completed this weekend. They're confident the equipment will be ready for use on Monday, May 13.