ROCKPORT – Rockport Fire Department, Inc., will be hosting a "Toll Booth" fundraiser Friday, Aug. 14 to help raise money for some new equipment to better serve the town.

Firefighters will be standing at the intersection of routes 17 and 90, between 1 and 6 p.m. and drivers who stop at the traffic light will have an opportunity to voluntarily drop a donation in a firefighter's boot.

Fire Chief Peasley said that giving community members an option to donate to the department to help cover the cost of replacing and acquiring new equipment, is in lieu of asking the town to add it to the department's budget.

According to Peasley, the department is in need of a Cascade System and Class B uniforms for firefighters to represent the department and town at ceremonies such as funerals and special events. The Cascade air bottling refilling station allows small cylinders to be filled with air without a compressor and helps to meet the demand of filling several small size cylinders in succession especially when fighting fires or during training exercises.

Peasley said that currently they have to rely on Rockland Fire Department to refill each tank and they would operate much more efficiently during fires if they did not have to take each bottle down and use firefighters' valuable time to fill the tanks.

Peasley said that the cost of running a fire department continues to increase every year and the challenge is to meet that need financially so they can consistently improve the department's efficiencies and capabilities.

The cost of the Cascade system is approximately $36,000, according to Peasley.

Peasley said he applies for at least six grants annually and so far this year has received two years of free cell phone service for the department and defibrillators. He is also working on additional grants including one to obtain communication head seat gear for the firefighters which is safety protection for hearing and allows communication among the trucks.

Donations can also be dropped off at the fire station, adjacent to the town office, or by mailing a check to the Rockport Fire Department, P.O. Box 142, Rockport, ME 04856. Please make checks out to the Rockport Fire Department, Inc.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com