Globe Awards New Gear to Two Departments as Part of 2013 Giveaway Program

Globe, in partnership with DuPont and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), has made the first two awards in the 2013 Globe Gear Giveaway program. East Glacier Park (MT) Volunteer Fire Department and Happy Jack (AZ) Fire Services will each receive four sets of new, state-of-the-art Globe gear.

Through the 2013 Globe Gear Giveaway program, Globe and DuPont are providing up to 52 sets of gear to volunteer fire departments in need. The program is administered through the NVFC and open to NVFC members in the U.S. and Canada who are all-volunteer departments serving a population of 25,000 or less. This is the second year for the giveaway program; in 2012, awards were made to 16 fire departments in the U.S. and Canada.

“We are pleased to partner with Globe and DuPont to help volunteer departments who are struggling to provide proper protection to their members,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “This program increases the safety and well-being of volunteer firefighters and is a wonderful example of companies giving back to the community.”

The East Glacier Volunteer Fire Department in Montana is a small department located on the south end of Glacier National Park, a location that causes the town’s size to double in the summer. The department has a call area of over 50 miles and also responds to wildland fires in the region. It receives a small operating budget from the county but doesn’t have enough funding to provide its 17 firefighters with new, compliant gear. Most of the gear they do have is over 10 years old.

“These new turnouts would be a blessing to our department,” said East Glacier Fire Chief Ben Steele.

Happy Jack Fire Services is located in Northern Arizona and surrounded by the Coconino National Forest. Many of the town’s permanent population are retired and living on fixed incomes. The population increases significantly during the summer as visitors rent cabins in the area. All of the department’s equipment is greater than 15 years old, and the main engine is 42 years old.

The department is in great need of new turnout gear. The gear they do have has been donated by other departments and dates to at least 15 years old or more. “My primary goal as chief is to protect my firefighters at all times,” said Happy Jack Fire Chief John D. Stahl, explaining why he applied for the Globe gear.

Both of these volunteer departments will benefit greatly from having four new sets of Globe turnout gear to protect their firefighters. As small all-volunteer departments, budgets are tight and the downward economy makes the challenges of funding even tougher. This donation will increase the safety of the firefighters as well as boost morale within the departments.

More awards of Globe turnout gear will be made each month throughout the rest of the year. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site, Dispatch newsletter, and page on Facebook, as well as the Globe page on Facebook, for upcoming announcements.

Contact
Kimberly Quiros, 202-887-5700
kimberly@nvfc.org

About Globe
Firefighters need to be prepared to perform at their peak, on every call. That’s why, when it comes to turnout gear, fit matters. Globe’s turnout gear is designed to protect you, move with you, and improve your performance. It’s athletic gear for firefighters. Learn more at www.globeturnoutgear.com.

About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.