$400K worth of Va. dept.’s new gear repossessed

PETERSBURG, Va. — After receiving $390,000 worth of new firefighting gear, a Virginia department says it has been repossessed.

The Petersburg Fire Department purchased the new SCBA using a federal grant that was awarded last May.

The equipment was taken back by Fire Protection Equipment Co. last week, reported CBS Local , and fire officials are scratching their heads at what the deputy chief calls a “unique situation.”

“Professionally, as a firefighter, it is a bit of a concern,” Petersburg Deputy Fire Chief Brian Sturdivant told NBC12 .

City officials are investigating what happened to the grant funding.

According to City Manager Dironna Belton, the city failed to restrict the department’s grant money, which was placed in a single pot along with funds for other city projects.

“We’re still investigating,” Belton said. “At this point, there has not been anything illegal done.”

For now, though, the department has been left with its old equipment.

“I have to make sure that it’s understood that this has no safety impact whatsoever to our firefighters,” Sturdivant said.