Wortham Volunteer Fire Department Unveils New Lifesaving Equipment Gear at Firehouse Subs® Waco

Wortham Volunteer Fire Department currently has 33 active members, each with protective gear assigned to them. In January, only four of those 33 sets of gear were in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1971 standards. Although volunteer fire departments are not required by law to follow NFPA standards at this time, they were enacted to protect firefighters from the extreme conditions encountered during firefighting operations.

Recently, while working to put out a vehicle fire, one Wortham crew member received second degree burns when magnesium inside the passenger compartment exploded. If he would have had NFPA 1971 compliant protective gear, these injuries might have been avoided. As call volume continues to increase across the state (Wortham’s call volume has more than doubled over the past five years), protecting crew members from hazardous situations is critical to keeping residents and visitors safe.

Now, thanks to an $18,325 grant from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, Wortham Volunteer Fire Department is equipped with new bunker gear, including coats, pants, helmets, boots and gloves. Proceeds from purchases made at U.S. Firehouse Subs restaurants provided the funding for this grant award.

To celebrate the receipt of this grant and lifesaving equipment, Wortham Fire Chief Kelly Craig joined local Firehouse Subs® Waco owner Brad Watkins at his restaurant in Waco for an acknowledgement ceremony and official check presentation from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation in February.