Homeland Security Grant gives Gates FFs room to breathe

Federal money will buy state-of-the-art face masks tailored to fit individual firefighters and with better communication features.

Gates Fire District Career Firefighter Tom Zampatori is wearing the new model face mask (the AV3000) and holding out the old model (the AV2000). The Gates Fire District has received a $51,837 Homeland Security grant which it is using to buy these state-of-the-art protective face pieces for firefighters, which are individually fit to firefighters and guarantee nothing contaminates their breathing air.