Firehouse Subs Donates to Local Fire Department

The Piedmont Park Fire Department benefitted on Wednesday from the generosity of a popular dining spot.

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which provides grants for equipment and other needs to local fire departments, gave  Piedmont Park Fire Department with more than $14,300 of life-saving tools during a presentation at Firehouse Subs on Wade Hampton Boulevard in Taylors.

"It's an honor and a privilege to be able to support the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protect ours," said Omar Ghorbani, franchisee of the Taylors Firehouse Subs location. "The FireHouse Subs Public Safety Foundation gives us the opportunity to show our appreciation in the best way possible, by giving back." 

Piedmont Park benefitted from thousands of dollars of radio and communication equipment that would allow for more interoperability between departments and emergency response agencies. 

Kevin Henson of the Piedmont Park Fire Department said the equipment was a solution to a longstanding problem, and would help the department better respond to large-scale fires or disasters and coordinate assistance with other agencies. 

"In Greenville County, we had several different communication systems used by public safety," Henson said. "Not all of them are the same. Not everybody in the fire service uses the same system, so we were looking for way to find a solution to where we could all talk not seam frequency when the time comes and when its necessary. What we were able to do is obtain the equipment to where we can put all these communications systems together into one and essentially talk on one radio instead of three or four."

On the week of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Robin Peters, executive director of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, said the donation was a reminder of the important job firefighters perform. 

"I think this week especially its really something we all really appreciate," Peters said. "You guys are always there, you're awesome, and we really appreciate you, so it's an honor to give back."

Founded in 2005 as a non-profit organization, the foundation provides educational opportunities and equipment to aid first-responders. Since its inception, the foundation has given some $2.6 million to local agencies.