Oshkosh, WI—The application period for the 2014 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program is expected to open soon (www.fema.gov). This means fire departments can soon apply for grants to purchase equipment needed to heighten firefighter safety, including Continental Girbau Inc. (Continental) ExpressWash™ Washers and ExpressDry™ Gear Dryers.
An appropriation of $680 million is approved for 2014, with $340 million to support Fire and EMS Operations and Safety Grants, Firefighting and Emergency Vehicle Grants and Fire Prevention and Safety Grants; and $340 million to support SAFER grants.
Continental ExpressWash Washers and ExpressDry Gear Dryers properly clean and dry turnout gear and other protective apparel—helping protect wearers from the hazards of contaminated gear. Fire departments across the nation purchase ExpressWash and ExpressDry equipment using AFG funding every year.
Fire Chief Scott Grooms applied for AFG funding to purchase the Eadytown (SC) Volunteer Fire Department’s ExpressWash Washer and ExpressDry Dryer. Installed in 2010, the duo properly cleans turnout gear, offers ease-of-use, and a wash/dry turnaround of around three hours.
Firefighters at the Cordova (AL) Fire Department stand next to their Continental ExpressWash Washer-Extractor and ExpressDry Gear Dryer. The equipment was installed on an old high school basketball court after two tornadoes destroyed their fire station.
Operators simply select a program number, press start, and the washer automatically blends optimum water temperatures, water levels, chemicals, mechanical action, precise extraction speeds and cycle times.
The Special Ops Gear Dryer is equipped with 12 drying ports and four invertible stickmen to quickly and safely dry ensembles of full protective gear and apparatuses used for firefighting and special operations, such as swift water, ice and dive rescues. An optional boot tree dries up to four pairs of soaked boots in just 60 minutes. The dryers use a 110-volt fan to push non-heated air through the garment—from the inside out—at high pressure. This effectively dries hard-to-reach areas that can be slow to dry – returning gear to service in hours, rather than days.
For more information, visit www.continentalgirbau.com.
