Excerpts from nprilliois.org:

The Springfield Fire Department has been awarded a nearly half a million dollar grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The department will use the $460,290 grant to buy 42 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) compliant air packs with, as well as a new self-contained breathing apparatus fill station to replace an existing one.

The department said the equipment will help firefighters do their jobs, including hazardous materials incidents and providing critical support during natural disasters.