Fire departments from across the Foothills have decided to send their old gear to developing countries.


Foothills M.D. Fire Chief Jim Smith says they will be sending the old gear to the Canadian Aid for Fire Service Abroad, a non-profit organization that collects used personal protective equipment.

Smith says the old equipment is still perfectly good to use.

"We have set standards through the National Fire Protection Agency. They basically dictate to us how long our gear, trucks and equipment are good for. They set the standards and we have to abide by the standards," says Smith.

"It's a really excellent organization. We can send it to a country that really needs it and they can use it for free."

The gear has to be disposed of after 10 years and often just ends up in the landfill.

Smith says about 50 sets of gear will be sent to the organization.