“We’re lucky to get these grants,” Formica added, referring to the two grants totaling over $600,000 the department received through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for new air packs and an exhaust system inside the firehouse to remove toxic fumes from the truck’s exhaust.  

Formica said that the fire district does not have the resources to come up with that kind of money when considering other expenses like pensions, salaries and maintenance.