They said they've been training with EMS to get into a dangerous scene sooner, and now have the equipment they need to stay safe while putting their lives on the line.

Throughout Merced County, firefighters and EMS will now be provided with bulletproof helmets and vests to use when responding to violent situations. County fire officials said they received $150,000 in federal grants to buy more than 150 ballistic safety sets.

"This is something all of us in fire and EMS certainly did not think that we would face," Cal Fire Batt. Chief Jeremy Rahn said. "Over the years there have been different threats and different hazards thrown to the fire and EMS responders and we've had to adapt to for it."

Merced County Division Chief Mark Lawson said the county got together and decided to draft the guideline on responding to violent incidents. During training sessions, an outside consultant recommended first-responders get more safety equipment. The county approached Cal OES to request the vests and were then given the funds.

The new equipment was presented on Thursday during a press conference. Fire officials brought up examples such as the San Bernardino shooting and more recently, the Azusa shooting. They also brought up the UC Merced attack that happened a little more than a year ago.

"It can be an active shooter because of a terrorist threat," Mark Pazin with Cal OES said. "It could be domestic violence situation."

Ultimately, they say they're preparing for the unknown.

“Some of the instances we would wear them is a mass causality incident where it involves an active shooter event or some kind of civil unrest,” Sanford fire Chief Fire Chief Craig Radzak said.

The Sanford Fire department told Eyewitness News that it has been working on the plan with the county for the last year.

Fire and EMS officials typically stand back and wait for victims to be brought to them.

However, in circumstances like the Pulse nightclub shooting in June, fire and EMS workers went into situations alongside law enforcement after the initial threat was eliminated.

“The job of the police officers is to protect the firefighters from any bullets or any perpetrators, and our job is to remove the victims and treat them,” Radzak said.

Just like the Sanford Fire Department, other firefighters in the county, will be required to wear the vests. Sanford will have roughly two dozen vests and helmets at the cost of $600 each. The fire department spent $21,000 from impact fee money for the vests and helmets.

Jamie Bass, whose father is a firefighter for a different county told Eyewitness News that she understands why the protection is needed, but it still makes her nervous knowing other fire departments are moving in that direction.

“I feel like it's still not their job, like, 'Oh, you need to put this on and come with us,’” Bass said.

The Sanford Fire Department told Eyewitness News that it plans to have all the new equipment by January.

Twin Lakes Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $3,000 for turnout gear. This new gear will ensure that department members are properly and safely outfitted for emergencies.

Applications were accepted during August. A total of 173 eligible applications were received.

“There is a significant need when it comes to the equipment emergency responders rely on to administer aid in our rural areas,” John Monson, chairman of AgStar’s Fund Board of Trustees said. “Any one of us, our family members, friends or neighbors could require emergency help at a moment’s notice. AgStar is proud to provide funding so, when that time comes, these departments have the tools they need to do their job well.”

To date, the AgStar Fund has donated $1,183,736 to rural emergency response departments for their equipment needs. A full list of this year’s recipients is posted on AgStar.com.

The Rural Emergency Response Equipment Grant is one of several ways in which AgStar’s Fund for Rural America partners with communities and organizations in AgStar’s service area.

The decision to merge the two fire departments was made by the Camdenton Board of Alderman to avoid duplicate services, which would save taxpayers money, and improve the functioning of the emergency service.

Frandsen says the results of merging are positive.

“The response times in the city, especially after hours on nights and weekends and evenings, it has gotten a lot better. They were saying that 7 to 10 response time prior to the merger and now we’ve got it back down to that 2 to 3 to 4-minute response time, depending on where in the city it is.”

The contract to merge the departments will cost the city of Camdenton an annual fee of around $300,000 for the next five years.  This will be paid to the fire department for its services and it will allow it to retain the territory and personnel of Camdenton City Fire Department.

However, a 25 cent general operating levy failed by over 500 votes on Tuesday’s ballot. This would have paid for equipment and truck improvements, and additional personnel. The levy would have replaced the 25 cent debt levy that is ending on December 31, 2016.