Todd Mission Fire Department receives new oxygen tanks

Todd Mission Volunteer Fire Department was awarded a $25,000 grant from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for 19 new self-contained breathing apparatuses, according to a Dec. 12 news release.

According to the news release, Todd Mission Volunteer Fire Department is one of the busiest volunteer stations in Grimes County with 30 crew members.

Todd Mission Fire Chief Cassandra Godfrey said her crew was previously operating with only 12 SCBA cylinders for the past six months, with four set to expire at the end of 2022.

SCBA cylinders are used to protect firefighters from inhaling harmful chemicals and carcinogens.

“Our job is to keep our citizens safe and in order to do that, we need to keep our crew safe as well," Godfrey said in the release. “With four of our current cylinders set to expire at the end of the year, we were dangerously close to being unable to operate. We can’t thank Firehouse Subs and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation enough for this grant.”

Allison Heard, Firehouse Subs public relations manager, said the proceeds from purchases made at U.S. Firehouse Subs restaurants provided the funding for the grant.

The new cylinders were given to the department Nov. 24 and are currently in use.