Grants help with purchase of lifesaving equipment

East County — Two recent grants helped East County Fire & Rescue buy more equipment to aid in its lifesaving efforts. A $9,947 grant from the BNSF Railway Foundation let the agency purchase four new automated external defibrillators to replace outdated ones that no longer meet current American Heart Association standards, according to a press release. Additionally, a $1,000 grant from the Wal-Mart on Southeast 192nd Avenue is helping drive down the $2,500 cost of installing four external radio antennas and power converters for the Area Coordination Center at the Fern Prairie Fire Station.