The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the latest recipients of MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway, Council Volunteer Fire Department in Honaker, Virginia and 737 Fire and Rescue in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Each department will receive four new sets of Globe turnout gear and four MSA Cairns fire helmets to provide protection to their volunteer firefighters.
Each year, MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) partner to award volunteer fire departments much-needed personal protective equipment through MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway.
In 2025, 13 departments will receive gear, with announcements being made monthly between July and December.
MSA also provided the first 500 applicants with a complimentary membership in the NVFC. Since the program began in 2012, the giveaway program has awarded 767 sets of gear and 312 helmets to 173 volunteer fire departments in need.
Located in Honaker, Virginia, the Council Volunteer Fire Department protects 74 square miles and serves a population of 3,377 across the communities of Council and Davenport.
The department’s 25 volunteers respond to an average of 56 calls each year, including vehicle incidents, smoke reports and structure fires.
According to the announcement by the NVFC, the department struggles with scarce funding opportunities and a minimal county budget, which has been further constrained by the construction of a new high school.
Currently, 15 volunteers lack assigned turnout gear, while nine are using gear that is more than 10 years old. Only one set of gear in the department meets current safety standards.
Department Secretary Matthew Austin explained: “We require members to be certified within a year of acceptance, but without compliant gear, they cannot safely perform their duties.
“New gear would relieve a tremendous financial burden and allow our dedicated members to serve our community to the best of their ability.”
737 Fire and Rescue serves a rural region of southeast Saskatchewan, Canada, covering 648 square miles and a population of 495.
The department’s 57 volunteers respond to around 20 calls annually, including wildland fires, defensive structure fires, rescues, and mutual aid requests from neighboring jurisdictions.
Originally formed in 2014 as a wildland firefighting unit, the department expanded in 2024 to include fire and rescue services as changing agricultural practices increased the community’s fire risk.
The department operates with a revenue that doesn’t meet its expenses, making it difficult to keep up with equipment needs.
Much of their turnout gear is past its intended lifespan and was donated secondhand from other agencies. Twenty-eight volunteers are currently without assigned gear and the department only has six SCBA units to cover its entire roster.
Purchasing Manager David Pattyson explained: “Our equipment, though serviceable, is expired, which is concerning both on scene and during training.
“New gear would allow us to begin a much-needed replacement program, standardize our equipment, and ensure our members are protected.”
The NVFC has announced the latest recipients of MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway, Council Volunteer Fire Department in Honaker, Virginia and 737 Fire and Rescue in Saskatchewan, Canada.
