Following a year filled with worldwide strife – especially for first responders, frontline workers, and restaurants – Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation^® set a new record for the most money ever awarded in a single quarter. The $2.5 million in grants are going to 118 nationwide public safety organizations and will be put toward the purchase of critical lifesaving equipment.

“Just one year ago, the Foundation was unsure of the future in the face of COVID-19 lockdowns and restaurant dine-in restrictions. But thanks to Americans opening their hearts as the country closed down, lifesaving equipment is being put in the hands of first responders who desperately need it,” said Robin Peters, executive director, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.

“We’re so thankful for the support from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and our local Firehouse Subs restaurant,” said John Cermak, Fire Chief, North Country Regional Fire Authority, and the grant recipient of a LUCAS 3 Automated Chest Compression System through the Foundation’s COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund. “The LUCAS device enables our first responders to give continuous, consistent chest compressions in cardiac resuscitations, providing the best chance to the citizens of our local community to survive a cardiac arrest. It will also improve the safety of the department’s first responders during COVID-19 by minimizing absorption of aerosolized virus particles during manual CPR.”

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation awards grants on a quarterly basis which are given to first responders and non-profits that support community safety. A majority of the grants provided go toward purchasing lifesaving equipment for first responder organizations. Equipment examples include firefighter PPE (personal protective equipment) ($1,000-$1,300), thermal imaging cameras ($10,000), automated external defibrillators (AEDs) ($1,500), all-terrain vehicles ($20,000) and vehicle extrication tools ($25,000).

Since 2005, lifesaving equipment like this and much more has been awarded quarterly to first responder organizations thanks to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. Established in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Firehouse Subs founders, Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen traveled to Mississippi where they fed first responders, as well as survivors. As they returned to Florida, exhausted and exhilarated, they knew more could be done, and the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was born. Over the past 15 years, the Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $57 million in 49 states and Puerto Rico.

To learn more about Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation or donate online, visit FirehouseSubsFoundation.org.

Rosenbauer America and North American Fire Equipment Company, Inc. (NAFECO) have announced they will be expanding their partnership into the state of Florida. Rosenbauer first joined forces with NAFECO in January 2021 to provide sales and service in the southeastern United States. Due to overwhelming success in Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia, Rosenbauer’s partnership with NAFECO has been expanded to include the state of Florida, effective April 2021.

“Florida is one of the largest and most concentrated markets for fire apparatus in North America” said Mark Fusco, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing for Rosenbauer America. “Rosenbauer is honored and confident to further partner with NAFECO to support, sell and service fire departments and communities throughout Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and now Florida”.

Founded in 1968 by Jerrell Oaks, NAFECO began its half-century in business by providing fire extinguisher service and sales to factories and other companies in the area. Over the course of its 50-year history, the company developed into a full-line distributor for fire, law enforcement, and industrial safety apparel and equipment, including fire apparatus, ambulances, and ATV/UTV-mounted skid units.

“NAFECO is excited to expand our partnership with Rosenbauer in the State of Florida,” added Jerrell Oaks, CEO and founder of NAFECO. “We have established a team that is ready and willing to support this great opportunity and product throughout the state. We are fully committed to supporting the existing Rosenbauer customer base and look forward to adding more customers to the Rosenbauer and NAFECO family.” Headquartered in Decatur, Alabama, NAFECO has 125 employees supporting their four branch offices in the southeastern United States and has territory managers located in 12 states.

Pasco County (FL) Fire Rescue tomorrow at 9 a.m. will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for Station 9, reports Patch.com.

Located at 11425 Silver Palm Blvd. in Land O’ Lakes, Station 9 is a 16,046-square-foot, four-bay fire station with features to protect the health of firefighters—it’s the first in Tampa Bay to be specially designed to reduce cancer risks for firefighters.

When Engine 502 had passed its service life, the Lake Shore (PA) Fire Department decided to donate it to the FD Relief Mission of Western PA, reports yourerie.com.

Starting on May 18, the organization plans to bring Engine 502 to New Jersey. From there it will head to the Dominican Republic for firefighters who don’t have such apparatus to use.