Final Three Fire Departments Awarded New Turnouts and Helmets Through the 2024 MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway

December 17, 2024

Volunteer fire departments often struggle to find the funding they need to purchase new gear for their firefighters. To help meet this need and increase responder safety, MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) annually partner to award volunteer departments with new turnout gear and helmets through MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway.

This year’s program wraps up with three additional departments each receiving four sets of Globe turnout gear and four MSA Cairns® fire helmets to provide protection to their volunteer firefighters. In total, 13 departments received gear and helmets in 2024, and the first 500 applicants also received a complimentary NVFC membership, courtesy of MSA. Since 2012, 767 sets of turnout gear and 312 helmets have been awarded through MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway.

Congratulations to the final 2024 recipients: Tanner Volunteer Fire Department (Athens, AL), Hessmer (LA) Fire Department, and Taylorstown (PA) Volunteer Fire Department. Learn more about the program at www.nvfc.org/gear and stay tuned for announcements about the 2025 program. Learn about the latest recipients below.

Tanner Volunteer Fire Department
Located in northern Alabama, the Tanner Volunteer Fire Department is dedicated to serving a close-knit community of approximately 5,500 residents in southern Limestone County. With a mission to provide exceptional fire, rescue, and EMS services, the department’s 14 volunteers also extend mutual aid to neighboring communities when needed.

Currently, the department has a pressing need to upgrade a critical radio system, which leaves no funds to purchase turnout gear. The new gear received through MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway will be vital in replacing outdated turnout gear that is over a decade old, enhancing firefighters’ safety and readiness on the job.

Hessmer Fire Department
Hessmer Volunteer Fire Department serves 30-square-miles in central Louisiana, covering residential areas and active train tracks both within and beyond city limits. Hessmer’s population of 3,700 people takes pride in its youth sports and baseball fields. Despite recent progress, including improving its fire rating, the department faces financial difficulties and relies heavily on grants to secure the resources needed to maintain safety and continue protecting its community.

With 20 active firefighters and only 15 sets of gear – all more than 10 years old and thus out of compliance with NFPA standards – the department faces a critical need for donated equipment to enhance training and ensure community safety. “Donating this gear to us would mean giving it to our most active and dedicated members, allowing us to continue life-saving efforts,” said Lieutenant Landon Smith.

Taylorstown Volunteer Fire Department
Located in southwestern Pennsylvania, Taylorstown Volunteer Fire Company serves a rural area home to 2,608 residents. Staffed by 17 firefighters and 5 junior firefighters, their jurisdiction includes 14 miles of interstate and over 5,000 acres of forest. Given its rural location, the department’s volunteers are tasked with helping in a variety of medical emergencies to stabilize patients before the arrival of the ambulance. “Several of our firefighters have voluntarily taken the time and effort to achieve national EMS licenses and maintain a medic unit within our fire company,” said social member Sheila Renz.

Four of the departments’ firefighters lack assigned gear, forcing them to share for calls and training. Another eight volunteers rely on outdated, non-compliant gear. With only five compliant sets available, participation in state training and certification exams is significantly limited. This gear donation will help improve the department’s emergency response, expand training opportunities, and enhance firefighter safety.

About Globe Manufacturing Company and MSA Safety
Globe Manufacturing Company, a leader in fire service protective clothing, is a subsidiary of MSA Safety Incorporated. MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced safety products, technologies and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the Company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2023 revenues of $1.8 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania and employs a team of over 5,000 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSAsafety.com.

About DuPont Personal Protection
From first responders to industrial workers, DuPont provides a wide range of personal protection solutions, including some of the most trusted and innovative brands in the industry, such as Kevlar®, Nomex®, Tyvek® and Tychem® to meet your safety needs. More information can be found at personalprotection.dupont.com.

About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, healthcare and worker safety. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com.

DuPont™, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all products, unless otherwise noted, denoted with ™, ℠ or ® are trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks of affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.