U.S. Congressman Gary Palmer announced Sept. 15 that the Verbena Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department received a grant for $69,715.

The Assistance to Firefighters Operations and Safety grant comes from the Department of Homeland Security.

The department’s application competed against thousands through a peer review process for a portion of federal funding, according to a release from Palmer’s office.

“I am pleased that the Verbena Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department was successful in this competitive grant process,” Palmer said in a release. “I know it will increase their preparedness to keep their community safe.”

Verbena Fire Chief Allen Goree said the grant would help purchase a minimum of 12 self-contained breathing apparatuses.

“They run about $6,000 apiece and it has been well over 10 years since we have updated our equipment,” Goree said. “We were very fortunate to get the grant.”

Goree said firefighters are required to use the breathing apparatuses when they approach a structure fire or vehicle fire to prevent breathing in the heat and smoke, which could cause harm to firefighters.

Funds awarded under the Assistance for Firefighters Grant (AFG) program are used to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations.

Only the applications most closely conforming to program priorities are considered and scored by peer review panels.

The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“We applied for the grant almost a year ago, and we just got the confirmation we received it,” Goree said. “We are very excited.”