The Ludowici/Long County Fire Department recently received a grant to purchase new protective gear for its firefighters. According to Assistant Chief Richard Truman, the $45,000 federal grant was used to purchase 26 sets of Globe G-Xtreme bunker gear for firefighters to wear when they battle blazes. 
Truman said the money also will go toward purchasing specialized washing and drying machines for bunker gear.
“A county of our size isn’t going to have the money to buy this much gear; grants go toward everything from purchasing new vehicles to specialized equipment. If we didn’t receive these grants, we would be behind the times,” Truman said.
The assistant chief also said the department is in the process of submitting paperwork for possibly receiving additional grants for equipment, an emergency operation center and a new fire station.