Culver -Union Township Fire Department
Culver Fire receives high-tech breathing equipment

Representing the Culver-Union Fire Department are (front, from left): Bobby Cooper, Jerry Siler, Bryce Lindall and Marek Rogers; (back from left): Jim Bonine, Jim Grover, Assistant Chief Ken VanDePutte, Glenn Whitmarsh, Tim Mc Carthy, Terry Wakefield, Dave Cooper, Chief Mike Grover and Pete Peterson

Culver — For nearly 20 years, Culver’s volunteer firefighters have relied on the same outdated machine to replenish and fill up each firefighter’s air tank after a fire or other emergency. But now, that air compressor is increasingly unreliable and the firefighters are getting a new one, made with the newest technology.

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company is awarding a $30,000 grant to the Culver Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of a new air compressor.

The machine is designed to fill the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) bottles with compressed air so firefighters can breathe freely during a fire or hazardous emergency where the environment is contaminated. Without such a device, firefighters would be unable to safely work in certain emergency situations.

“Our limited budget makes it nearly impossible to go out and purchase an expensive machine like this,” said Fire Chief Mike Grover. “Our new air compressor will be used for many years to come, and ensure our firefighters have save, clean air to breathe while fighting fires.”

Chief Grover, Culver firefighters, and Fireman’s Fund employees will come together for a special public event where the grant package will be presented Saturday, Sept. 22, at 3 p.m. at the Culver Volunteer Fire Dept., 504 E. Lake Shore Dr., Culver .

The equipment is being paid for by the Fireman’s Fund, which provides grants to fire departments through its Fireman’s Fund HeritageSM program. As part of this initiative, every employee is able to nominate a fire department for a grant. A special regional task force of employees and agents then reviews the nominations and selects winners. Michelle Smith, a national product director who has a sister living in Culver, nominated the fire department.

“My sister is disabled and has had to call upon Culver’s firefighters for help in the past,” said Smith. “They have selflessly helped my family and I’m proud to help them, knowing this grant will provide them with top-notch equipment to enable them to continue doing their jobs to the best of their ability in the future.”

Town Council president Ed Pinder said, "Our fire department is the best. These people do a wonderful job and I'm proud to be a town board president with a department like this." (was not online.

Plymouth Pilot / Culver Citizen Managing Editor Maggie Nixon contributed to this