Kearny, NJ – On Wednesday, February 28, 2018, Mayor Alberto G. Santos and Councilwoman and Fire Committee Chairperson Eileen Eckel joined Fire Chief Steven Dyl and members of the Kearny Fire Department as they prepared for shipment a donation of firefighting and turnout gear that is no longer needed for use by the Kearny Fire Department. The receiving Fire Departments are the Corpo de Bombeiros Voluntários de Montemor-o-Velho in Portugal and the Hinigaran Fire Department in Province of Negros Occidental, Philippines.
The donated equipment will be used in ongoing recoveries from fires in both countries. The Filipino volunteers will be receiving 14 sets of turn-out gear along with eight SCBAs (self-contained breathing apparatus). The Portuguese squad will receive 70 sets of turn-out gear, 30 SCBAs and helmets. The Kearny Fire Department, Mayor and Town Council hope the donated equipment will help both recipients in the recovery process. The Town of Kearny also extends its gratitude to town residents Lynn and Peter Greb and Milu Alves and Maria Helena Neno for their assistance in coordinating the donation projects with the recipient fire departments.
(Photos by Barbara Goldberg)