Volunteer firefighters are getting new equipment to replace hundreds of vital breathing units that are being discontinued.
The provincial government is purchasing more than 300 pieces of equipment for more than 50 volunteer fire departments across the province.
The cost of replacement of the hundreds of units, known as Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus or SCBA, is more than $3 million.
Premier Andrew Furey made the announcement this morning in Holyrood, joined by Minister Bernard Davis, President of the NL Fire Services Association Duane Antle and Chief of the Holyrood Fire Department Leslie Kenny.
Antle says the devices are very costly, with individual units priced between $9,000 and $12,000.
Antle states the announcement will help departments that were “caught off guard” by the manufacturer discontinuing the product.
He says the devices are critical for not only providing the services they do, but also for ensuring firefighters are safe.