Cabot Corporation (Ville Platte) Senior Capital Coordinator and Community Outreach Team Leader Rhonda Deshotels presented a Cabot Foundation Grant to the Ville Platte Volunteer Fire Department on Tuesday, January 24. The grant, in excess of $17,000.00, will cover the cost of replacing two Firefighting Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus units, a firefighter’s clean-air lifeline used in performing their tasks. The department requires a minimum of 20 SCBAs in its fleet of five fire apparatus to protect the city (four SCBAs per fire truck). At a cost that ranges from $8,500 - $9,500 each, replacing the SCBAs has become a challenge. SCBAs have a service life of 15 - 20 years, depending on use and condition confirmed by routine maintenance and inspection. SCBA lightweight composite air cylinders require recertification every few years and have a lifespan of 15 years. Most of the SCBAs the department has in service consist of the heavier, aluminum cylinders which can contribute to firefighter fatigue and hold less air, which can translate to shorter work intervals during operations, thus possibly limiting effective operations. Upgrading department SCBAs has been an ongoing program for the Ville Platte Fire Department in recent years. Without the support, of local businesses and generous corporations and non-profit foundations, upgrading vital, costly equipment, such as SCBAs, would much more difficult. The Ville Platte Fire Department and the City of Ville Platte are very grateful to the Cabot Foundation for its recent and past financial contributions and support. Pictured (L to R): Part-Time Firefighter/Operator Curtis Marcantel, Fire Training and Safety Officer Kyle Dupre, Fire Captain Scott Dupre, Asst. Fire Chief Fabian Poullard, VPVFD President/Captain Patrick Derouselle, Cabot Corporation’s Rhonda Deshotels, Ville Platte Mayor Ryan Williams, Fire Chief Chris Soileau, and City Treasurer/Clerk Donald Bergeron. (Photo courtesy of Fire Chief Chris Soileau)
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