Five fire agencies get new breathing masks with federal grant

Five fire agencies on the Central Coast are receiving new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) with a $1.7 million dollar federal grant.

Fire officials with the Monterey County Regional Fire District, Monterey Fire Department, Salinas Fire Department, Seaside Fire Department and the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade said they will all see the benefits of the new masks during an announcement Tuesday morning at the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey.

Representative Sam Farr, D-Carmel and a local Department of Homeland Security representative also participated in the presentation of the masks during the announcement.

NewsChannel 5 will have more on this story.