We Energies Foundation grants $100k to first responders across Wisconsin to help upgrade life-saving equipment

 

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin's first responders will receive upgraded life-saving equipment, thanks to a $100,000 dollar grant from the We Energies Foundation.

The money is part of the "Rewarding Responders" grant program, which, since 2020, has given more than $400,000 dollars to public safety agencies.

This year, nearly 60 departments in the state are benefitting from the funds, including several in southeast Wisconsin.

On Wednesday, Aug. 28, We Energies held a news conference at the West Allis Fire Department, who said they will use their portion to purchase a new gas detector.

“You know between the ever-tightening fiscal constraints that cities are facing, it’s very important for us to find alternative funding sources to keep the taxpayers," said West Allis Fire Chief Mason Pooler. “Take yesterday for example, 105-degree heat index, so it’s tough to go out there every day and do this job and to know that you’ve got state of the art equipment backing you up and keeping you safe is paramount."

West Allis Mayor Dan Devine said collaboration between multiple agencies is key.

“It’s very important, I mean everybody has to have a regional mindset and thinking together and when a neighboring department or even a little bit further away can get stronger, it just makes everybody better," Devine said. “It’s all about being prepared and it’s all about having the best equipment and the best training and everything that you can to be ready for anything."

We Energies provided this list below, which features each individual department included in the grant and what they plan on purchasing with their portion of the funds:

·         Allenton Volunteer Fire Department — Auto cribbing and electric vehicle (EV) fire class

·         Anson Fire Department — Rescue boat

·         Auburndale Joint Fire Department — Thermal imaging camera

·         Baldwin Area EMS — Pagers

·         Belgium Fire Department — EMS gear coat and pant set

·         Belleville Area EMS — Guardian angel safety lights

·         Belleville Volunteer Firefighters — Automated external defibrillator (AED)

·         Boltonville Volunteer Fire Department — Engine equipment

·         Boulder Junction Volunteer Fire Department — AED

·         Briggsville Volunteer Fire Department — Fire nozzle replacement

·         Caledonia Fire Department — Gas detectors

·         Cascade Fire Department — Gas detector and thermal imaging camera

·         Center Fire Department — Hose replacement

·         City of Burlington Fire Department — EV emergency plugs

·         City of Burlington Police Department — Retention holsters

·         City of Lake Mills Fire Department — Gas detector

·         City of Port Washington Fire Department — Gas detector

·         City of West Allis Fire Department — Gas detector

·         Clinton Fire Protection District — Gas detector

·         Durand Fire Relief Association — Gas detector

·         Fall River Fire Department — Gas detector

·         Freedom First Responders — Pediatric advanced airway project

·         Germantown Police Department — AED

·         Grand Chute Fire Department — Gas detector

·         Granton Area First Responders — AED

·         Green Valley Morgan Fire Co. — Wildfire and electrical fire training and equipment

·         Iron County Central Dispatch — AED

·         Iron County Sheriff’s Office — AED

·         Iron River Police Department — Technology upgrade

·         Jackson Fire Department — Gas detector

·         Jefferson Fire Department — Gas detectors

·         Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department — Fire investigation task force

·         Kewaskum Firefighters Association — Gas detector

·         Kiel Fire and Rescue — Technical rescue equipment

·         Kimberly Fire and Rescue Department — Gas detector

·         Kingsford Public Safety Department — Police K-9 training and equipment

·         Manawa Rural Fire and Ambulance — Personal protective equipment

·         Marquette County Sheriff’s Department — AED

·         Marshall Volunteer Fire Department — Scene lighting

·         Marshfield Police Department — Sked basic rescue system

·         Muscoda EMS — Training manikins

·         Nadeau Township — Scene lighting

·         Norway City Police Department — SWAT vest

·         Richland Center Fire Department — Gas detector

·         Rudolph Volunteer Fire Department — Structural firefighting turnout gear

·         South Milwaukee Fire Department — EMS manual lift and stair chair

·         Spalding Township Fire Department — CPR manikins, mask and supplies

·         Stetsonville Volunteer Fire Company — Jaws of Life equipment

·         Sullivan Volunteer Fire Department — Gas detector

·         Town of Buchanan Fire and Rescue — Gas detector

·         Town of East Troy Police Department — Rescue equipment

·         Village of Grafton Fire Department — Gas detector

·         Village of Lannon Police Department — Speed enforcement equipment

·         Village of Mukwonago Police Department — Safety barriers

·         Village of Pulaski Police Department — Replacement batteries

·         Washington County Sheriff’s Office — Tactical Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) program

·         Westfield Fire Department — Gas detector

·         Weyauwega Fire Department — Enclosed trailer for educational materials