Several local fire departments joined in to invest in a valuable piece of equipment. Five fire departments in Knox County pooled together funds from Compeer Financial’s Emergency Response Equipment grants to buy a fit tester for firefighters’ air masks. Those departments are the City of Galesburg Fire Department, Clover Township Fire Department, Bishop Hill Fire Department, Galva Fire Department, and Oneida-Wataga Fire Department. The machine – which ensures that masks and respirators fit properly could be life-saving. According to a press release from Compeer Financial, by pooling resources, Knox County fire departments were able to purchase the costly tool which they are donating to the Western Illinois Firefighters Association. So in total, 22 fire departments will benefit from the fit tester. Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $20.3 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management, and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
***Pictured above from left to right: Representative Dan Swanson, Chief Dan McDowell, Chief Denny Tarleton, Shane Kaiser from Compeer Financial and Chief Tom Simkins.
