The Everett Fire Department (EFD) is pleased to announce that it has received a grant of over $56,000 from the Gary Sinise Foundation and Amazon to replace its aging Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) packs. This funding will standardize RIT gear on all Everett Fire engines, enhancing the department’s firefighter rescue capabilities.
The Gary Sinise Foundation states, “The grant comes from the ongoing three-year partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation and Amazon to support heroes across the nation.”
Rapid Intervention Packs (RIT) are vital tools firefighters use during emergencies involving rescuing a fellow firefighter trapped or incapacitated inside a burning structure. Each RIT pack includes a pressurized air bottle, SCBA mask, various fittings for providing additional breathing air, and a 200-foot rescue rope, all designed to facilitate a swift and effective rescue. This equipment is intended to assist downed firefighters immediately and enable their safe exit from dangerous situations.
All firefighters within the Everett Fire Department receive annual training on using RIT equipment and practice simulated firefighter rescues in conjunction with SCBA drills. Quarterly training sessions further reinforce these vital skills, ensuring that all firefighters are always prepared for these types of high-pressure situations.
Assistant Fire Chief Mike Calvert highlighted the importance of the upgrade, saying, “Updating our RIT tools is essential for our firefighters’ safety in emergencies. This new gear enhances our interoperability with neighboring fire agencies by moving us to the same standards they are using.”
“At Amazon, we’re incredibly grateful for the warm welcome we’ve received from the Everett community,” said Dean Allsopp, Manager of Amazon Community Engagement. “As we continue to deepen our roots here, this grant is our way of acknowledging the dedication and bravery of Everett’s local firefighters and reflects our ongoing commitment to Everett’s well-being. We’re deeply thankful for their service and look forward to continuing our partnership with this wonderful community.”
The grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation, which supports veterans and first responders, underscores the commitment to enhancing safety and operational readiness in the community. The Everett Fire Department thanks the Foundation for its generous support in bolstering the department’s rescue capabilities.
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About the Gary Sinise Foundation
Gary Sinise is an award-winning actor and humanitarian, best known for his roles in CSI:NY, Apollo 13, and his Oscar-nominated performance in the film Forrest Gump as the wounded Vietnam veteran Lt. Dan Taylor. An advocate for our nation’s defenders since the 1980s, after 9/11, Sinise began a tireless crusade to support America’s military and first responders around the world with handshake tours and concerts with his band, the Lt. Dan Band. In 2011, he established the Gary Sinise Foundation as an extension of those efforts. Today, the Foundation is building custom homes for severely wounded heroes, honoring and supporting the families of our fallen, providing essential equipment and training for first responders, improving the mental wellness of our defenders, and so much more. For more information and to support, visit www.garysinisefoundation.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X or YouTube.