The ability, or lack thereof, to purchase adequate personal protective equipment is a well-known struggle for many volunteer fire departments across the U.S.

To help combat this problem and keep first responders safe while they protect our communities, MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have partnered for the 12th year to award fire departments in need with state-of-the-art turnout gear and helmets through MSA and DuPont’s 2023 Globe Gear Giveaway.

Through this year’s program, four new sets of turnout gear along with four helmets will be awarded to 13 departments to increase firefighter safety.

The application period is now open!

To be eligible to apply, departments must:

• Be over 50% volunteer
• Serve a population of 25,000 or less
• Be located in the U.S. or Canada
• Demonstrate a need for new gear, and
• The person applying or the department chief must be a member of the NVFC. MSA will provide complimentary NVFC memberships to the first 500 applicants to help departments meet the membership requirement.

Volunteer departments may view full program criteria and apply by June 1 at www.nvfc.org/gear. Winners will be announced monthly between July and December.