40-Year-Old Haddonfield Firefighting Equipment to be Replaced

A 40-year-old air compressor Haddonfield firefighters used to refill personal oxygen tanks will be replaced, thanks to a $38,803 federal grant.

The device supplies clean air to air bottles firefighters wear on their backs, allowing them to breath when surrounded by toxic smoke. Haddonfield firefighters needed to spent hours after a blaze to refill their tanks with the aging air refilling station. The new system fills bottles faster, safer and more efficiently. 

"This grant will provide our volunteer firefighters with the best breathing-air equipment available,” Chief Joe Riggs said. “It’s our responsibility to keep our firefighters safe, and having the proper equipment helps us retain members and recruit more volunteer firefighters, who in turn volunteer to protect our town. So ultimately, it's our residents that reap the biggest reward from this grant."

Haddon Fire Co. No. 1, mostly relies on donations to help pay for training and everyday needs for firefighting. That includes equipment such as radios, pagers, hoses, uniforms and supplies. The borough pays for equipment such as fire trucks and insurance.

Firefighter Brain Poliafico, Lt. Rich Kahl and Lt. Craig Jordan wrote the grant request. The funding was awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s SAFER and Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) programs.