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Davis Journal

Firehouse Subs makes large donation to South Davis Metro Fire

Feb 08, 2021 09:31AM ● By Becky Ginos

BOUNTIFUL—Having the proper equipment can mean the difference between life and death for a firefighter, but budgeting for that kind of gear can be expensive. That’s why when South Davis Metro Fire received a grant for $48,000 from Firehouse Subs, Fire Chief Dane Stone was thrilled.

“I thought $25,000 would be a ton of money so I was a bit nervous to put in for $48,000,” said Stone. “I saw the need and decided to swing for the fences. When I heard it got approved I was ecstatic. It was a happy day.”

Firehouse Subs was started in 2004 by two brothers who were both firefighters, said Randy Judd, area representative for Firehouse Subs. “Their dad was a firefighter too. When Katrina hit in 2005, they loaded up a lot of food and headed to Florida. When they got there they realized the first responders weren’t getting taken care of so they fed them. Then they went on eBay and bought a new fire engine for a firehouse that had lost everything.”

They decided to start the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, said Judd. “They put dropboxes in the stores and sold the pickle buckets in the restaurants for $3 and donated the proceeds. In the process it’s grown. The amount awarded in the U.S. is $55 million plus. In the Salt Lake City area it’s over $850,000.”

Metro used the grant to purchase 100 bailout bags. “When I got hired years ago this was a bedroom community,” said Capt. Topher Maxwell. “There were mostly two story, single family houses and no highrises. Then they started getting higher and higher. We needed to put together a bailout bag so if you can’t get out of a second story you don’t have to jump.”

The bags have a rope and hook system. “It keeps guys safe,” said Maxwell. “They can dangle there or repel. It can also be hooked to a ladder to rescue and lower a victim. You can use one hand or two hands. It lives on their turnouts or belt so it will be there.”

“I believe our firefighters are excited to have this option in case things go bad,” Stone said. “It’s your parachute to get out. We hope we never have to use it but it’s another PPE we can use. I couldn’t be more grateful.”