Fire Departments in Minnesota and Oklahoma Awarded Turnouts and Helmets through MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway

November 25, 2025

Congratulations to the Atwater (MN) Fire Department and the Hydro (OK) Fire Department on being the latest recipients of MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. Each department will receive four new sets of Globe^® turnout gear and four MSA Cairns^® fire helmets to help protect their volunteer firefighters.

Each year, MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) partner to provide volunteer fire departments with much-needed personal protective equipment. Now in its 14^th year, the giveaway program has awarded 767 sets of gear and 312 helmets to 173 volunteer fire departments. An additional 52 sets of gear and helmets are being awarded this year, with announcements being made between July and December. The first 500 applicants also received a one-year NVFC membership, courtesy of MSA.

Learn more about the program at www.nvfc.org/gear. Read about the latest recipients below.

Atwater Fire Department
The Atwater (MN) Fire Department serves the City of Atwater and surrounding rural areas, protecting a population of about 3,500 across 78 square miles. Staffed entirely by volunteer firefighters and EMTs, the department responds to roughly 40 calls each year, including structure and wildland fires, vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, and severe weather events.

Serving a small town with a limited tax base, the department does its best to maintain adequate equipment, training, and protective gear with a constrained budget. Recently, the department welcomed four female volunteers, a major step forward in broadening participation and strengthening their ranks. However, these firefighters have been relying on outdated, ill-fitting turnout gear originally designed for men. This has raised serious safety and comfort concerns.

“Properly fitted turnout gear is essential for firefighter safety, training, and confidence,” said engineer Allen Walther. “Receiving this donation will ensure our new members have gear that fits correctly, keeps them protected, and allows them to perform at their best. It also shows our community that anyone willing to serve is supported and valued.”

Hydro Fire Department
The Hydro (OK) Fire Department serves a 100-square-mile area, protecting approximately 2,000 residents and a heavily traveled stretch of Interstate 40 that sees nearly 28,000 vehicles daily. The department’s 14 volunteer firefighters respond to an average of 280 calls annually, including structure fires, wildland fires, vehicle accidents, hazardous materials incidents, and medical emergencies.

Hydro Fire also provides mutual and automatic aid to neighboring departments, extending its reach to more than 475 square miles and 15,000 residents. Despite the large coverage area and growing call volume, the department operates on limited funding, with an annual budget of about $35,000.

“Our turnout gear was purchased nearly a decade ago thanks to a local donation, but much of it is now expiring,” explained fire chief Benjamin Slagell. “To remain NFPA compliant, we need to replace 15 sets within the next two years. This donation allows us to begin that process, improving firefighter safety and keeping our team ready to respond.”

The final awards of 2025 will be announced in December. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site, Dispatch newsletter, and Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram pages, as well as the Globe Facebook page, for additional information.

About Globe Manufacturing Company and MSA Safety
Globe Manufacturing Company, a leader in fire service protective clothing, is a subsidiary of MSA Safety Incorporated. MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced safety products, technologies and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2024 revenues of $1.8 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania and employs a team of more than 5,000 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSAsafety.com.

About DuPont Personal Protection
From first responders to industrial workers, DuPont provides a wide range of personal protection solutions, including some of the most trusted and innovative brands in the industry, such as Kevlar^®, Nomex^®, Tyvek^® and Tychem^® to meet your safety needs. More information can be found at personalprotection.dupont.com.

About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader, providing advanced solutions that help transform industries and improve everyday life across our key markets of healthcare, water, construction, and transportation. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com. DuPont^™, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all products, unless otherwise noted, denoted with ^™, ^℠ or ^® are trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire and emergency medical services. The NVFC unites and supports volunteer and combination fire and EMS organizations through education, advocacy, leadership development, and collaboration. Guided by professionalism and innovation, we provide the tools and resources needed to protect communities, advance responder health and safety, and prepare leaders for the future. Learn more and join at www.nvfc.org.