Earlier this year, the Syracuse Fire Department received a $10,000 grant from the Nebraska Forestry Department through a 75/25 cost-share program, enabling them to purchase 15 full sets of wildland and technical rescue personal protective equipment (PPE). As part of the grant, the department needed to contribute $2,500, which they successfully raised. However, an additional overage cost of $1,150.00 emerged.
This PPE is crucial for firefighter safety, as it is designed to reduce heat stress and improve mobility compared to heavier structural firefighting gear. Nebraska’s ongoing drought, extreme heat and high winds, combined with last year marking the second-worst fire season in the state’s history, the equipment is essential for protecting firefighters in increasingly hazardous conditions.
Liza Godsey, a Municipal Services Technician at E&A and a volunteer for the Syracuse Fire Department recognized the importance of securing this equipment. Liza approached her supervisor, Bob Czerwinski, and shared her situation. Bob understood the need and the importance of this PPE and spoke to E&A president Tom Nussrallah and together provided the $1150. E&A donated $500 of the overage cost, while Bob and his wife, Heather Czerwinski, covered the remaining $650.
