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Bunker Gear Donated to Falls City Volunteer Fire Department

By John Nixon

01/26/2016

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(KLZA)-- The Falls City Volunteer Fire Department was recently the recipient of a generous donation of gear from Consolidated Fire District #2, which serves Northeast Johnson County, Kansas.

January 22nd, Stella native Jon Gossman delivered 19 sets of bunker gear to the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department. Bunker Gear is the coats and pants firefighters wear at the scene of a fire.

Gossman, a nearly 10-year veteran of Consolidated Fire District #2 is a member of the Bunker Gear Committee under Fire Chief Tony Lopez. Gossman is also a good friend of Dan Wenz. Wenz is an active member of the Lincoln Fire Department and doubles as a member of the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department.

When the Johnson County, Kansas Fire Department purchased new bunker gear, Gossman called Wenz the two of them coordinated the donation of gear to the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department.

Falls City Volunteer Fire Chief Ken Simpson estimates the cost of a new set of bunker gear at $1,800. He says the donation will hopefully allow the Falls City Fire Department to spend some money on other needed equipment.

About every 8-years CFD#2 purchases new gear. You cannot sell used gear, but you can donate it. Falls City Volunteer Fire Chief Ken Simpson says the used gear still has life left in it. The donated gear is black, which Simpson says will turn color as it wears out.

Chief Simpson says the department tries to purchase a couple of sets of new gear each year, so with a roster of 30-plus volunteer firefighters, it is likely you don’t get new gear very often. With firefighters coming in all shapes and sizes, it is rare there is a used set of gear a new member can wear, meaning an expense of new gear, once the firefighter has proved through training they will be able to stick with the department.

The addition of the bunker gear donation, it means the local department, will likely only need to purchase helmets, boots and gloves when new people join the department for at least a few years.

Chief Simpson expressed thanks to both Gossman and Wenz for coordinating the donation of the gear.