U.S. Rep. Casten Visits Westmont Fire Dept. During Annual Training
U.S. Representative Sean Casten recently contacted the Westmont Fire Department to congratulate them on receiving a $181,818.00 federal grant. When Casten learned that the grant would be used to purchase new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) equipment and that the Westmont Fire Department would be using this gear for their annual drills, he was invited to come and tour the facility as well as take part in the drills.
"I feel it's important to directly connect with the constituents and agencies of our district so that I can better understand their needs," said Casten. "After getting a chance to experience these drills first-hand, I have even more respect for our first responders. We should never take them for granted." Casten added, "I want to thank Chief Riley and the Village of Westmont for this opportunity. Westmont definitely has a first-class operation."
Pictures from the visit have been uploaded to the Village of Westmont Photo Gallery - https://villageofwestmont.smugmug.com/2020/2020-09-01-Casten-Visits-Fire-Dept /
Each year, all Westmont Fire Department personnel participate in a training exercise using SCBA equipment to determine a realistic benchmark regarding how long a firefighter can be engaged in fire fighting tasks using one air bottle. Fire personnel dress in their full gear, and using only one air bottle, participate in an obstacle course to see how long one air bottle will last. The typical air bottle will last 15-18 minutes when the firefighter is engaged in firefighting activities. The exercise also tests the stamina and strength of staff.
The Westmont Fire Department is an award-winning agency and is the only department in the country to have a Class 1 ISO rating and be an accredited agency while employing a part-time staff which saves the community millions of dollars each year.
Source: Village of Westmont