On Wednesday, May 7th, 2014 Chiefs McWilliams and Sly traveled to the Christiana Fire Company in Lancaster County to receive delivery of our new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, or SCBA.

These new SCBA will replace our well-used and outdated equipment which is more than 12 years old. The funding for this vital equipment was obtained through a Federal grant awarded in 2013 through a Regional effort between Westwood, Christiana, Kinzer, Paradise, and Strasburg Fire Companies.

We received a total of 19 new SCBA with the latest technology and safety features, a Rapid Intervention Kit for usage in the case of a downed firefighter, "Pak Tracker" units to locate firefighters wearing SCBA, and other various accessories.

The total funding received in equipment exceeded $90,000 -- however the Fire Company was responsible to pay only 10% of that amount to meet Federal guidelines.

We would like to once again express our appreciation to Chief Reimold, Captain Lofgren, and the entire Christiana Fire Company for hosting this project as well as the other participants who enabled this project to be completed as a collaborative effort.

Our personnel will receive formal training on these new SCBA on May 21st at which time they will be placed into service on our apparatus.