Federal grant comes to Rescue Hose Co. 1 in Greencastle

Great news for the Rescue Hose 1 in Greencastle today. The organization has been awarded a Department of Homeland Security FIRE grant in the amount of $182,875.

RHC will use the grant to replace 35 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) units, which are at the end of their life cycle.

“Like most things, the cost of providing emergency services continues to rise,” said Kevin Barnes, fire chief.

“We, like other organizations or households, budget, prioritize and delay purchases where possible. This funding allows us to replace our current breathing apparatus with updated equipment and technology, increasing dependability and improving responder safety.”

In announcing the grant, Congressman Bill Shuster said,“This is great news for the first responders at Rescue Hose Company and the people they help protect every day. Without this critical equipment, our volunteer fire fighters wouldn’t have the ability to enter hazardous or smoke-filled environments to save lives.

“This is expensive equipment and this grant makes it easier for our rural first responders to stay well-equipped and up-to-date.”