Southport Fire Department seeks donations for new equipment

Tue, 06/27/2017 - 8:15am

Caitlin Shepherd will be running the 10k in the Rocky Coast Road Race this Saturday, July 1 to raise funds and awareness for the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), a piece of equipment firefighters use. The Southport Fire Department has SCBA devices, but needs to update to the equipment the rest of Lincoln County is using.

“At about $6,000 per pack (and we need eight) this is a pricey but crucial update,” said Shepherd. “In a community this size, a good number of our calls are mutual aid and so to improve our basic inter-operability with the other departments— not to mention to facilitate firefighter rescue operations should need ever arise— this change is vital not only for the public's safety, but ours as well.”

Of the total cost of about $48,000, $7,500 has been raised, but Shepherd said an unnamed donor has offered to match every $5,000 up to $20,000.

“Thanks to this incredibly generous offer, any donation made, big or small, will be doubled,” said Shepherd.

Donations can be made online at www.YouCaring.com/sponsorSFD — or in person at one of the hubs collecting proceeds: Southport General Store, Robinson’s Wharf, Southport Memorial Library and the Squirrel Island Post Office.

“We still have a long way to go to cover the cost of this changeover, but I just have to say thank you to all those who have already donated, hosted a ‘donation station’ or given me a wave of encouragement out on the road.”