The Livingston Fire Department has been awarded a federal grant to purchase new gear, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. announced on Wednesday.

Livingston’s volunteer department will receive a F.I.R.E. Act grant for $188,640 from the Department of Homeland Security.

The grant will help the fire department obtain 20 new complete sets of turn-out gear, including bunker pants and coats, as well as 20 self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) equipped with life-saving features.

 “This grant will help ensure that the Livingston Fire Department’s volunteers have every advantage when they face dangerous fires in their community or when they help neighboring communities respond to emergencies,” Pascrell said.

Livingston Fire Chief Christopher Mullin said the grant would be used to replace some of the department’s turn-out gear; much of it has been used for decades. The grant will also be used to purchase new SCBA equipment that includes “heads-up” displays inside the masks that indicate how much air remains in the tank. The SCBA equipment can also be connected to a life-saving air source outside of a burning building in the event a firefighter is trapped.

“It can give us up to another hour to keep a trapped firefighter alive, giving us more time for the rescue,” said Mullin.

The new SCBA gear will also aid the Livingston Fire Department’s role in the Essex County Decontamination Task Force in responding to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear emergencies, Mullin said.

“In this day and age, to get a grant like this is a true gift. It allows us to purchase the equipment we need and continue to fight the fight,” Mullin said.

This is the Livingston Fire Department’s third FIRE grant award since the funding was first made available in 2002. Since then, the department has been awarded $266,040 for safety equipment and training for firefighters.