SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation gifted $25,000 to the South Bend Fire Department on Friday.

The donation will go towards purchasing new gear for the swift rescue team, which include flotation vests and dry suits.

According to the fire department, the gear would have useful for 30 to 40 different instances in 2018. These instances involve training, regular calls and rescues.

“A lot of the stuff – it protects our responders,” said Chris Baker, the Battalion Chief with the South Bend Fire Department. “This dry suit here basically when we go into the water, if its contaminated, it keeps all of that contamination off of us as rescuers and then throughout the winter months, we’ll put on some thermal layering under it so we stay dry, so that’s a big part of the equipment.”

About 90% of Mishawaka Firehouse Subs customers donated.

Firehouse Subs is a national sandwich franchise founded in Jacksonville, Florida.