Brawley Fire Department receives anonymous $30K donation for PPE
BRAWLEY — A former Brawley resident recently donated $30,000 to the Brawley Fire Department specifically so the department could purchase personnel protective equipment.
BFD received a check for the donation on Nov. 1 from the former resident, who requested that the gift remain anonymous.
Brawley City Council on Tuesday unanimously accepted the donation into the city’s fiscal budget (an increase in revenues and expenditures of $30,000 to BFD).
“We’d like to thank our anonymous donor for that very generous donation,” Brawley Mayor Norma Kastner-Jauregui said on behalf of the City Council during the council’s regular meeting.
While practically no information is known about the donor, it is known that the gift came at the right time for the Fire Department, as it has been in need of replacing aging gear.
The donor made the gift in direct response to that need.
The PPE required for structural firefighting is specifically sized to an individual and has a recommended life span of 10 years, a council agenda item stated.
As the Fire Department has had recent recruitment activities, there is an immediate need to purchase PPE to fit the new hires, as well as to replace aged gear.
The donation will put every single full-time firefighter in brand new turnout gear, Fire Chief Mike York explained.
“This is a monumental issue for us, with the turnover that we’ve had and new hires,” York told the council during Tuesday’s meeting. “The gear that we wear is supposed to be replaced every 10 years. It’s sized and fitted, so you can imagine that we have people that are in outdated gear — gear that’s not in the best shape.”
“Receiving this donation is a huge step in putting us in NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) compliance and protecting our personnel the best way we can.”
York said the resident approached him several months ago with the desire to make the donation — specifically for the purpose of purchasing PPE.
“There was some discussion back and forth, and some delay due to COVID and some other issues, but I have received a check on
Nov. 1 in the amount of $30,000,” York said.
Mayor Kastner-Jauregui told York that if he knew the donor, to thank him.
“I do, and he’s been thanked quite a bit,” York replied.
The city will receive this much-needed PPE at a time when its fire department and emergency medical services are seeing an increase in COVID-19-related calls for service.
York reported Tuesday that BFD emergency medical services personnel have responded to 151 COVID-related
911 calls — 68 of which were confirmed COVID positive.
Between Oct. 6 and Tuesday, 13 calls were logged. Six turned out to be positive.
From Sept. 22 to Oct. 6, the city’s dispatch center received no COVID-related calls for service.
“We’re seeing an increase in our 911 calls,” York said.
The fire chief reported that, as of Tuesday, there was an active COVID case count of 746 in Imperial County. This was an increase of a little more than 300 cases from the count on Nov. 3.
“So we are definitely seeing the spike that’s been advertised in local media and the news,” York said. “We’re certainly feeling it here in Imperial Valley.”
Also, as of Tuesday, there had been 351 COVID-related deaths in the county — an increase of 13 since Nov. 3.
“We’re actually seeing a spike in, not only positive cases, but also in deaths,” York said.
Out of those 351 deaths, 45 have occurred within the city of Brawley. There have been 2,323 total cases in the city through Tuesday.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the Brawley City Council unanimously agreed to renew the city’s local emergency declaration that was issued in response to COVID.
Per policy, the council can renew the declaration every 60 days, with the last renewal occurring Sept. 22. The declaration also affects eligibility for state and federal relief.