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Luverne Fire Department gets grant for breathing equipment

Lead Summary
By
Lori Sorenson

The Luverne Fire Department will soon receive new essential breathing equipment, thanks to a  $189,381 federal grant for the purchase of new equipment and a $11,930.75 city match.
The Luverne City Council recently took action to award a contract with Allegiant in Sioux Falls for the new MSA (Mine Safety Appliances) respiratory equipment.
Luverne Fire Chief David Van Batavia and Assistant Chief Jordan Siebenahler attended the Nov. 10 council meeting to report on the grant that will pay for the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
 “This is what the guys wear on their backs for house fires,” he said while Siebenahler displayed current, older equipment that protects firefighters from toxic gas and air particles in structure fires.
“The bottles expire every 15 years, so now our inventory will be up to date,” Van Batavia said.
He also said the new equipment doesn’t rely on double A batteries, which currently cost the department $500 per year.
Luverne Fire Department members tested equipment from two different companies in a smoke-filled training structure, and they said the Allegiant equipment was the most comfortable and had features that performed best in the conditions.
“We’re really excited about how everything came together, and we’re really excited to update that gear,” Van Batavia told the council.
He said Allegiant submitted the lowest bid, is nearby for repair and service, and the equipment meets the needs of the department.
He also explained the grant process.
“We’ve been trying for this grant for quite a few years, and we hired a grant writer last year to make sure we answered all the questions correctly,” he said, adding that the grant writer paid off.
“We found out we could spend countless hours on the grant and answer a question incorrectly and have the computer throw it out and nobody reads it. … Obviously it was a great day for us when we got the grant.”
Van Batavia said the new equipment will arrive in January and Allegiant will come to Luverne to fit all the firefighters with their gear. “That’s another yearly expense that we also won’t have this year,” he said.
The delivery will include 28 packs and 56 bottles (each pack comes with two bottles), plus 34 new face pieces.
Mayor Pat Baustian praised Van Batavia for his perseverance in pursuing the grant and for his work with the department.
“I think what you guys do for the fire department, the community and the county is an untold story,” Baustian said. “You had some long days during some of those hot, windy fire calls.”
Van Batavia said the Luverne Fire Department has been on 26 calls since the Luverne airport fire on Sept. 23.
“The new gear for the guys will be great,” he said. “Thanks for always listening to our concerns. We appreciate the support.”

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