SKOWHEGAN — The Skowhegan Fire Department has donated thousands of dollars in firefighting breathing apparatus to fire departments in nearby Athens and Cornville.

Skowhegan Fire Chief Shawn Howard said the agreement is part of his goal to establish strong working relationships with area communities that share in mutual aid calls.

Athens and Cornville each received five pieces of self-contained breathing apparatus and 10 cylinder air bottles for use in interior firefighting, Howard said. He said the total cost if the towns were to buy the apparatus new would be $75,000 to $90,000.

Skowhegan recently received a $140,000 federal grant to replace the air packs and the cylinders with new equipment. Selectmen agreed to donate the older equipment to the other towns.

“They are all in good working condition; they’re good, still safe — some of the bottles expire next year, but some don’t expire until something like 2021,” Howard said. “There was a large amount of bottles that we were going to have to replace over the next five years at a huge cost, so that prompted us to apply for the federal grants to have everything replaced.”

Howard said when the grant was awarded, his department had a couple of choices. It could sell the equipment for parts to a dealer for about $150 for each piece, or it could donate them to neighboring departments.

“We got looking and we said if we donated these to like Athens and Cornville, then one, it helps them out, but two, it kind of helps us out, too,” Howard said. “We use both of those towns for mutual aid. When they come down for mutual aid, their air packs get used by firefighters. People use other people’s equipment. Now, by giving them the air packs, they have air packs that we’re familiar with and we all have the same type on the fire ground. It just makes sense, and why not show a little good will to our neighbors?”

Also, he said, it saves taxpayers’ money in Athens and Cornville.

Athens Fire Chief Travis Thompson said his firefighters knew Skowhegan had received the grant for new equipment, and they were hoping to get some of the equipment that was being replaced.

“We were glad that it went through and was able to happen,” Thompson said. “It’s a huge benefit to the town. Plus, the packs that we have are aluminum bottles and the packs we got from Skowhegan are carbon-fiber ones, and they’re way lighter, so it’s easier on the firefighters. They can carry them longer and not get as tired with them.”

He said training won’t be necessary for the 17 members of the Athens Volunteer Fire Department because the equipment works like the air packs they already have.

In Cornville, Fire Capt. Matt Quinn, who also is a lieutenant with the Skowhegan department, said the equipment is an upgrade from what the department is using.

“Skowhegan was very gracious to give us these air packs,” Quinn said. “These packs are over $5,000 a piece brand-new, which would make it nearly impossible for us to afford on our budget. We all work together in the area, and when we respond to help Skowhegan out, this equipment will be used in town as well.”

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

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Twitter: @Doug_Harlow