Photo courtesy photo by Kacey WhiteHelping Heroes, a program sponsored by Koch Pipeline Company and Flint Hills Resources, has awarded a $4,500 grant to the Southlake Fire Department in order to purchase three new gas monitors.
Each gas monitor costs $1,500 and will enable the department to better detect leaks in order to better protect citizens from the possibility of any gas-related incidents.
The department did not previously have the equipment to detect propane, butane or natural gas.
The Helping Heroes program also gave a $2,500 grant to the Edgecliff Fire Department and $5,000 to the Fort Worth Fire Department.
"It's important to us to be good neighbors," said Yoalmo Salazar, operations supervisor for Koch Pipeline Company. "Through this donation for safety equipment and training, Koch Pipeline Company is pleased to provide the men and women of these Tarrant County Fire Departments with resources that help keep both them and our community safe."
Koch Pipeline and Flint Hills Resources, both subsidiaries of parent company Koch Industries, began the Helping Heroes program in 2012 to help fire departments and first responders with training and material needs. This year the program donated $137,000 to 30 fire departments across Texas.
About 70 departments throughout Texas applied for funds during the 2014 grant cycle. Grants awarded averaged $4,700 and were determined by a team of internal and external safety experts based on the specific needs submitted by applicants.
