ONE-TIME DONATION
Support Great Falls Firefighters
Want to make a positive impact that will increase Great Falls Firefighter training, response and safety?
Make a one-time donation by selecting the PayPal "Donate" button below.
​
Would you prefer to donate to a specific need?
Scroll down to see the current equipment needs that are not funded through the City of Great Falls' budget for Great Falls Fire Rescue.
Designated donations may be accepted through PayPal, cash, check or money order. If donating online, PayPal will provide you simple instructions to make sure your donation is designated to the item you choose.
Cash, check or money order donations can be mailed or dropped off at:
​
Great Falls Fire Rescue Foundation
105 9th Street South
Great Falls, MT 59401.
GREAT FALLS FIRE RESCUE EQUIPMENT NEEDS
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Washer $35,000
Contaminated gear is a constant health risk. The SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) and protective gear are lifelines for firefighters in their daily work of saving the lives of others.
​
When fighting a fire, protective gear absorb hazardous contamination in the form of soot particles and combustion gases. This contamination then poses a health risk to the firefighter. Therefore, it is paramount to the firefighter's health to decontaminate the protective gear immediately upon return to the station.
The Solo Rescue cleans SCBAs and protective gear of residue from combustion gases, soot particles and other toxins in just a few minutes. It can clean steel, composite, rubber, fabric, plastic, etc., all in a mechanical, self-contained process.
​The Solo Rescue offers a quick, easy, and safe method of cleaning protective gear in a sealed compartment. This process minimizes manual contact with contaminated materials.
Currently, GFFR cleans their SCBA with a hose and scrub brushes, using dawn dish detergent. Their masks are rinsed in a bucket with a cleaning detergent. This can limit decontamination before being worn on the next event. This process is time consuming and not very effective when cleaning the most valuable piece of equipment that protects our firefighters' lungs and enables them to enter fire and smoke environments, as well as other toxic environments.
​
6-Unit Ambient Air Turnout Gear Dryer $12,500
Currently, GFFR has no means to dry bunker gear that meets NFPA standards.
This turnout gear dryer will accommodate six slots at a time. and allow GFFR firefighters to get back into their front line PPE quicker to serve our community.
It meets manufacturer drying requirements and complies with NFPA 1851 for drying gear.
By using powerful fans that push heated air through gear from the inside out, it dries hard to reach areas and vapor barriers in gear that are prone to mold and mildew if not dried properly.
Currently, after GFFR's gear is washed, it is then hung in the basement with a fan blowing on it to dry. To completely dry, it takes several days. The hard to reach areas on the inside never fully dry. When their gear is drying, firefighters are in their “back up “gear that is not as fitted or up to standard as their front line. This unit can dry gear in 2-3 hours which allows the firefighter to get back into their frontline gear much quicker and better serve the community.
The drying component is a part of the Department's cancer reduction efforts that we have not been able to address with normal budget funds.
