Over $65,000 awarded to keep first responders safe and healthy
Today the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation (Fire Foundation) announced it has funded $65,342 to the City of Imperial Beach for upgraded personal safety gear that enhances protection for lifeguards and firefighters (First Responders). The investments strengthen the City’s ongoing efforts to safeguard personnel who routinely respond to emergencies in areas affected by regional water pollution originating from the Tijuana River.
Imperial Beach First Responders routinely serve the community in challenging coastal and river environments. While the region continues to face water quality issues, the City proactively equips its teams with protective gear and protocols. The new equipment funded through this grant further enhances those safety measures and supports long-term health and readiness.
The Fire Foundation provided the following personal protective equipment to improve the safety of the First Responders:
- 10 Dry Suits for full time Lifeguards
- 10 Dry Suits and Basic Equipment for part-time Lifeguards
- 12 Sets of Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs)
- 12 Firefighter Face Masks
Imperial Beach Marine Safety Captain Jason Lindquist said, “The PPE funded by San Diego Regional Fire Foundation has been a huge asset to our staff. All full-time personnel have a second drysuit as backup in case the primary drysuit fails or needs servicing. Additionally, we now have enough equipment to protect the on-duty part-time personnel daily. These dry suits significantly enhance our ability to safely perform our duties in and around the Tijuana River Valley along the Imperial Beach coastline..” This is the first set of dry suits and related equipment for Imperial Beach’s part-time lifeguards.
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The continued support of the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation has been a great asset to the Fire-Rescue Department here in Imperial Beach,” said Imperial Beach Fire Chief John French. “The new turnouts and the new breathing apparatus face masks are a huge step in the right direction for cancer prevention within our department. We would not have been able to make this purchase without the generosity of this Foundation. We are deeply grateful for their continued support and dedication to our cause.” These new PFAS (per & polyfluoroalkyl substances) free turnouts and the new breathing apparatus face masks will help protect firefighters against health hazards, including certain cancers, posed by exposure to these “forever chemicals.” Imperial Beach Fire Rescue is the first fire department in the County to order the non-PFAS turnouts. Several departments are waiting to hear their feedback on this new PPE.
This grant, which supports the Imperial Beach First Responders, was made possible by funds received from the San Diego River Conservancy through the Fire Foundation. The Conservancy aims to enhance the health and enjoyment of the San Diego, Sweetwater, Otay, and Tijuana River watershed areas within San Diego County.
“We are proud to help fund the First Responders of Imperial Beach as they work in very difficult circumstances and it is critical that all our first responders in San Diego County have the equipment necessary to keep them safe and healthy as they do very dangerous work to protect all of us”, said Joan Jones, Executive Director of the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation.
About the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation
For 36 years, the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation has been the only fire foundation supporting all of San Diego County with the goal of “Making San Diego the Safest County in the Nation”. We accomplish this by providing fire and medical equipment to all fire agencies in the County with over 250 fire stations. Additionally, the Fire Foundation works to prevent fires and makes community members better prepared in case of fires by supporting all Fire Safe Councils in San Diego County. Lastly, we create a pathway for EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) to advance in the fire service by providing scholarships to attend Fire Academies and Paramedic School. Visit www.sdfirefoundation.org.
About the San Diego River Conservancy
The San Diego River Conservancy is an independent and non-regulatory state agency established in 2002. The Conservancy’s Governing Board comprises state and local representatives and public members who form diverse partnerships committed to conserving these highly valued resources. The San Diego River Conservancy strives to accomplish its mission by preserving land, protecting open space, wildlife species, and native habitats, and providing recreational and educational opportunities. Since 2021, the San Diego River Conservancy has approved over $35 million in grants for San Diego County wildfire and forest resilience projects. https://sdrc.ca.gov/