Four local firefighters are scheduled to be honored for their part in saving lives during a major arson case recently in Yuma.

When the Clubhouse Suites in Yuma went up in flames in late February, local firefighters were there quickly to fight the blaze and their fast response is credited with saving several lives.

Logan Fire Chief Scott Beckett told the Logan Town Council that the firefighters will be honored at a ceremony to be held on Friday at 12:30 p.m. at the Chief Logan Convention Center along Corridor G, prior to the announcement of the upcoming park recreation center. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin and Gov. Joe Manchin are scheduled to attend the event.

The state Fire Marshall's Office had commended the Logan Fire Department for their role in saving lives and Chief Beckett noted that his department's ladder truck proved its worth in that particularly dangerous case.

Beckett said it has been a busy and productive year for his department

"We haven't run under 50 calls this year," he explained.

Beckett said the Department has placed 16 brand new, state of the art Self Contained Breathing Apparatus units into service with 41 spare bottles, which were purchased with an $81,000 Homeland Security grant. The old units they will be replacing were from 10-20 years old.

"The new units will give us twice as much work time inside an engulfed structure, and they have several more safety features," Beckett told The Logan Banner, saying the department has applied for another Homeland Security Grant, which will be utilized for auto extrication tools if approved.

Firefighting equipment is unusually expensive because it is a specialty market, and not many other people find uses for it, Beckett noted. "These units are about $5,000 each," he explained.

"This one tank is $800 and the face mask is about $200. When you see a firefighter in turnout gear, you are looking at about $7,500 in gear. That is what your tax money goes for. New technology to keep up with updated requirements can get costly. Currently we pay about $1,400 for a set of pants and a coat alone. The gloves a firefighter uses cost about $50."

Beckett's department has also been doing required maintenance, repairs and checks on equipment such as inspecting one mile of fire hose this past month when firefighters had downtime.

"We will be inspecting another two miles we have left," he said. "We have a lot of guys here who are handy with machines and electronics, so we do a lot of fixing of things in house. Our guys rebuilt a pump primer, repaired panel lighting and scene lighting."

Beckett estimated the savings at around $1,000 for maintenance and repair work done by firefighters.

In March, the Logan Fire Department handled 52 calls; logged state and federal reports; billed 10 calls for reimbursement costs; had training for firefighter safety, auto extrication and on the SCBAs.

The Logan Fire Department also changed the traffic lights at Holland Lane and assisted with the AM VETS Easter Program for children.