NORTH BEND- Getting adequate funding is becoming more and more difficult for all agencies, but fortunately for the North Bay Fire Department, some generous grants are helping them purchase all types of brand new equipment this year.

From local to Federal grants, North Bay Fire received over $150,000 in grant funding this year.

Through the Coquille Tribal Community Fund, North Bay Fire received $10,000 to replace old clothing and gear, while a Bay Area Hospital grant will cover the cost of some new defibrillators.

But the largest grant was courtesy of the Assistance to Firefighters grant.

North Bay assistant fire chief Jim Aldrich says, "We're fortunate enough to apply for the Assistance to Firefighters grant, we received $139,000 for breathing apparatus. What that will do is replace all the old breathing apparatus that we use to go into a dangerous environment and breathe clean air."

Not to mention the possible danger old equipment poses to the firefighters, Aldrich says having the same equipment as other local fire agencies makes working together much easier.

"Working together, we want to make sure our equipment is interoperable in the event we need to grab a part or a piece from a scene. It's all going to be interchangeable, so far us a big part of it is interoperability."

Aldrich expects the new equipment to arrive in the next couple of months.