Three Polk County fire departments received state grants totaling more than $186,000 to be used toward the purchase of new equipment for first responders that could be life-saving.
Blaise Ingoglia, the state’s chief financial officer, presented the funds to the leadership of Auburndale, Frostproof and Lakeland fire departments at Lakeland’s Fire Station One on the afternoon of Nov. 12.
“We must be sure that our fire stations and firefighters have the equipment they need to keep our families safe and keep themselves safe,” Ingoglia said. “Unfortunately, firefighters are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer.”…