HANCOCK - The Hancock Fire Co. has been awarded $244,625 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, U.S. Sens. Paul Sarbanes and Barbara Mikulski announced Wednesday.
The money will be used to purchase 20 sets of turn-out gear, 20 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units, 20 portable radios for interoperable communications and an emergency generator.
Deputy Fire Chief Greg Yost said most of the money will be used to replace equipment that either no longer meets standards or is incompatible with countywide systems
Yost said turn-out gear includes coats, pants, helmets and other protective clothing that firefighters wear to an emergency scene. He said much of the fire company's protective clothing must be replaced to meet current standards.