San Juan Bautista volunteer firefighters will soon have a host
of top-of-the-line equipment at their disposal thanks to a nearly
$60,000 gift from the federal government.
San Juan Bautista – San Juan Bautista volunteer firefighters will soon have a host of top-of-the-line equipment at their disposal thanks to a nearly $60,000 gift from the federal government.
Eight fire departments around the Central Coast received almost $1 million from a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program that assists local jurisdictions to purchase new equipment and training materials.
San Juan, which received $230,000 from the program last year to buy a new fire truck, will be outfitting that truck with a new Jaws of Life, six breathing apparatuses at $4,500 each, and some other basic rescue equipment, said San Juan Volunteer Fire Chief Rick Cokley.
While the city would have been able to purchase the needed equipment eventually, it would have taken two to three years to scrimp and save enough to buy it all, Cokley said.
Cokley hopes to donate the old equipment – such as his 10-year-old breathing apparatus – to other fire departments around the country that are in more dire straights than San Juan, he said.
“There’s a lot of them out there in the United States, although it’s hard to imagine,” he said. “Ones in Nebraska or Kansas – it’s amazing the stuff they’re getting by with.”
The equipment has already started arriving and Cokley hopes to have everything in place and ready to go by the end of the month, he said.
Local Congressman Sam Farr highlighted the need to upgrade fire departments around the Central Coast, especially in the wake of the recent hurricane disasters that wreaked havoc along the Gulf Coast.
“Making sure our firefighters have the best equipment and training possible is critical to the safety and welfare of everyone in the community,” Farr said in a statement. “These grants will bring much needed improvements to fire houses around the Central Coasts.”
While the federal grant is appreciated, Cokley said additional money is always needed to aid the 18 active volunteers and 12 in training. The department’s annual pancake breakfast will be held Saturday from 7am to noon at the fire department in San Juan to raise money for a day of fire training, he said.
“We’re hoping to raise $5,000 or more,” he said, “but every little bit helps.”
The fire department is located at 311 Second Street.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
