Members of the City of Tonawanda Fire Department announced on June 13 that they had received a $200,000 state grant to buy new safety equipment for firefighters.

Officials stated the funds, provided by Jeremy Zellner, will be used to obtain self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipment, including individually assigned face masks for firemen. In order to support further efforts to lower firefighters' exposure to cancer-causing pollutants, the department also intends to buy a specialist gear washer made to remove carcinogens from turnout gear.

Leaders of the department expressed gratitude to Bill Conrad, Jason Voisinet, William Strassburg, and Senator Zellner for their support of the department's firefighter safety programs.