LaCrosse Volunteer Fire Department Unveils Equipment Purchased with $99,999 GSF Grant

Representatives from the Gary Sinise Foundation paid a visit to the LaCrosse Volunteer Fire Department Wednesday afternoon for a press conference.

The purpose of the conference was to publically recognize the grant worth nearly $100,000 that was awarded to the Department through the Foundation’s First Responders Outreach Program and to unveil the equipment that was ordered as a result of that funding contribution.

With the grant money, the Department was able to purchase a plethora of lifesaving equipment including nine MSA-G1 4,500 PSI Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA) with integrated thermal imaging cameras, 10 MSA-G1 face pieces, eighteen MSA-G1 4,500 PSI low profile cylinders and one Arctic fill compressor with a fill station and four bottle cascade system.

Those items were purchased through 5-Alarm Fire and Safety Equipment.

Representatives explained that having thermal imaging cameras built into the SCBA units will allow firefighters either carry another tool into a fire scene, instead of a handheld thermal imaging camera, or they’ll be able to have that hand free to make a rescue easier.

The units also have lights 360 degrees around that will alert team members of one another’s available air levels.

In a press release about the event, officials shared that this equipment will help improve the safety of the firefighters.

They also noted that without the Gary Sinise Foundation, the LaCrosse VFD would not have been able to afford this equipment since it costs nearly twice the amount of the Department’s annual budget. Many Departments rely heavily on community donations and volunteers purchasing their own equipment.

Grants like this help reduce the financial obligation put on citizens as well as the individuals who donate their time and energy to help protect the community.

Actor and advocate Gary Sinise, best known for his role as Lieutenant Dan in Forest Gump, established this Foundation to honor and assist America’s defenders, veterans, and first responders as well as their families and those in need.

Through the First Responders Outreach program, more than 233 emergency relief grants have been awarded to firefighters, police and EMTs and over 400 essential pieces of equipment have been donated.

For additional information, visit GarySiniseFoundation.org.

You can find pictures from the event below: