Firefighters at two area fire departments will get new turnout gear.

    Tuesday night, the Newton Board of Aldermen approved the purchase of five sets of firefighter turnout gear for the Newton Fire Department. The $9,388 cost was paid for through a $10,000 donation from La-Z-Boy of Newton.

    Last Thursday, the Marion Board of Aldermen approved the purchase of five sets of firefighter gear for the Marion Volunteer Fire Department. The $12,937 cost will be paid for with rebate money from the state of Mississippi.

    Marion Fire Chief Scott Stokes said gear used by the department now does not meet National Fire Protection Association standards.

    Newton Fire Chief Steven Kelly said each set of gear costs $1,877 and includes firefighter pants, coats and boots.

    “We don’t need helmets because we already have them; so we are not going to waste money on that,” Kelly said. “We will have $600 left over so I will probably purchase new firefighting structure gloves. They are around $80 a pair.”

    Kelly said the new gear will replace gear purchased about 10 years ago.

    According to the National Fire Protection Association, firefighter gear is supposed to be replaced every 10 years from the manufacturer’s date — even if it hasn’t been used — because it won’t meet new standards.

    Kelly said he hopes to purchase five sets of gear a year to keep the city from spending a lump sum of money at one time.

    “Instead of replacing 30 sets of gear at one time, we can replace five sets a year, Kelly said. “That way it doesn’t hit the city all at one time. Basically, we will spend $8,000 to $10,000 a year for the next five years versus $30,000 a year now.”