FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- After twice being passed over for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant, the third time's a charm for the Fairview Park Fire Department, which was recently awarded $113,162 from FEMA towards the purchase of 18 self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) with 36 bottles and 25 masks.

"We were lucky enough to get the grant this year," Fairview Park Fire Chief Tony Raffin said. "With the new equipment, we'll be able to replace all of our inventory as far as SCBAs are concerned."

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant requires a matching portion of $5,658, which the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Safety has agreed to pay through its grant match program. This leaves the Fire Department with having to cover $2,582 of the total $121,000 purchase from Lordstown's Warren Fire Equipment Inc.

"The SCBAs we have currently are somewhere between 18 and 22 years old," Raffin said. "They're unrepairable and outdated. We have a total of 18 in house. Currently, several of them are in some stage of being repaired, leaving us with around 12 to 15 in-service units."

The new Scott X3Pro 5500 PSI SCBAs are the same make as the Fire Department's existing equipment. Raffin said the apparatuses are used whenever firefighters enter an immediate dangerous to health and life environment.

"They're used multiple times throughout the year and at all structural firefighting events," Raffin said. "In fact, most recently they were used at the large fire in Olmsted Falls where the apartment building unfortunately burned.

"We're looking to move relatively quickly with this purchase. Hopefully, we'll receive them in the next month or two, and have them all in service by year's end."

It's been a busy 2018 for the Fairview Park Fire Department, which is also awaiting the delivery of a brand-new $718,000 aerial ladder truck.

"We're hoping that we're able to receive delivery sometime next month," Raffin said. "We hope to have that operational by the end of the year as well. After that, with everything we've done over the last several years, I think we're going to evaluate where we stand. We feel pretty good."

The Chief admitted the Fairview Park Fire Department, which spent $200,000 last year for a new ambulance, could be in the market for a new vehicle in the near future.

"The next purchase that we're more than likely going to be looking at will be an ambulance to replace our second ambulance, which is our back-up ambulance," Raffin said.