Photo courtesy of Wellman Fire Department social media.

The Wellman Volunteer Fire Department received 10 new SCBA packs from Sandry Fire Supply in DeWitt earlier this month.

Largely funded through a $64,866 grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, the equipment totaled approximately $95,000.

Wellman firefighter, Tracy Owens, explained the process for selecting equipment at the Riverboat Foundation benefit last month. “We put a committee together with literally the ten guys that are going to wear them, and let them decide which one is the one they want to go with,” he said. “It’s a piece of equipment we hope we don’t need, but we got to have them.”

An SCBA, or self contained breathing apparatus is worn by firefighters to protect their airways from toxic gas and harmful chemicals resulting from a fire.