Firefighters giving gear to group from Africa

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- 37 pairs of pants, 18 jackets, and five pairs of boots are headed from the Lake Charter Township fire department in Berrien County to a fire department in Africa.

Firefighters aren't allowed to keep gear for more than ten years, according to Lake Township Fire, a rule that isn't enforced in other countries.

So rather than throwing it all away- the department had the gear professionally cleaned before shipping it off to Malawi.

A Bethel student and former chaplain for Niles Fire Department set up the donation, saying firefighters in Malawi battle fires largely without protection.

"It's a blessing. So excited that they had to fill that, just thinking to help people in Africa, it's a blessing," said Mphatso Mwalwemi, a pastor in Malawi.

The donations are now en route. Organizers plan to get the gear to a US ministry who will then transport it to Africa.