Both the Steinbach and Hanover Fire Departments recently received sizeable grants from the province.

On Thursday, it was announced that the Manitoba government approved a total of $9.14M in Fire Protection Grants.

Steinbach Fire Chief Kel Toews says they received money for two projects.

Kel Toews and Paul Wiebe

"We got just over $36,000 for a new washer, extractor and dryer to clean our turnout gear which is a cancer prevention measure here. Firefighters are more prone to get certain types of cancer so that is all for the safety of our firefighters. The other grant is for just over $95,000 which was for replacing some of our breathing apparatus that is getting old."

Toews says these are things they've had their eye on for a while now.

"These were all items that were in our budget for over the next few years but it is great to get the money and great to replace them all right now. This frees up some money to do other things that are necessary."

Hanover Fire Chief Paul Wiebe notes they will also be getting a new gear washing system.

"It will be used for the entire department so all four stations will be using that. At this point, I haven't decided exactly where it will be installed, in which hall. It will definitely be going in one of our four stations and I will discuss that with my staff to see where the best location would be for it."

Up until now, Wiebe says they have been periodically sending their gear away for deep cleaning and just using a domestic washing machine in between which doesn't work nearly as well.

Wiebe notes they also received money for some new turnout gear through this provincial grant.