The Hartford-Neosho Rapids Fire Department is using funds generated from local activities and a Frontier Farm Credit grant to get new equipment.
Lyon County Fire District 5, as it’s officially known, recently got a $5,000 “Working Here” grant through Frontier Farm Credit. The district is combining that money with funds from a recent raffle and last year’s Neosho Rapids haunted house to purchase an extractor designed to properly wash the department’s personal protective equipment — a key part of getting firefighters ready for upcoming fires while reducing their risk of developing cancers. Structure fires now release a lengthy list of man-made materials that send carcinogens if burned. With the new ability to wash equipment in-house, the district can reduce delays and fight fires with cleaner, safer gear for its staff.
District 5 has added a cancer prevention statement to its Standard Operating Guidelines as part of this purchase. It also plans to offer the extractor to other nearby districts who may need to clean their PPE.
