Brighton Area Fire Authority Receives Grants for New Equipment

The Brighton Area Fire Authority (BAFA) will soon be the recipient of new gas meters, a fire extinguisher training system, two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and five iPad 2 tablets thanks to the aid of two grants.

Firehouse Subs, which recently opened it's first Michigan location in Brighton, has awarded BAFA a grant of $25,792.58 to purchase five new gas meters, the fire extinguisher training system and two AEDs.

The grant comes from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which is dedicated to better equip, educate, and fund public safety entities.

Brighton Fire Chief Mike O'Brian said he determined what equipment he would ask for in the grant by asking for recommendations from the staff.

"The gas meters are at the end of their shelf life, we can't get parts for them anymore," he said. "The fire extinguisher training system is a big addition to our public education program. It's a legitimate trainer for businesses and homeowners and it's a lot cleaner because we won't have to burn fuel."

The AEDs will go to Stations 31 and 32.

O'Brian said that the lifesaving machines are on all of the fire rigs, but now they will be publicly accessible at those stations in case all of the vehicles are out on a call.

The iPad 2 tablets will come from an $1,800 grant from Factory Mutual Insurance Company.

The tablets will help integrate the fire authority's current software and take paperwork out of the fire inspection process. Inspectors will be able to upload everything directly to the iPad, and all of that information will become directly available to all staff within 10-15 minutes, O'Brian said.