New breathing apparatus was delivered to North Catasauqua's Charotin Hose Company recently.

The arrival of the 19 air packs had been anticipated for several months, since borough firefighters learned the department had been approved for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant covering most of the cost.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant came from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The $94,763 grant funded a full replacement of the department's self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), worn by firefighters when entering a burning or smoke-filled building.

Assistant Fire Chief Erik Hirner announced the grant approval in a press release and on the department's website.

"Our current SCBA are outdated and obsolete, lacking updated safety features found on modern SCBA," he said. "We also knew all of our air cylinders would expire by the end of 2015."

The grant funding covers 95 percent of the cost of the equipment, with Charotin responsible for only 5 percent of the cost, totaling $10,421.

That amount was provided by the firefighters through fundraising events and campaigns.

According to the FEMA website, the goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and emergency medical service organizations.

Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles and training in order to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

Hirner said the fire department is grateful to FireMed Grant Solutions for its help applying for the grant.