On May 23, 2024, the LyondellBasell (LYB) Evansville team and city officials helped present new respiratory protection for the Evansville Fire Department to the community. The enhanced safety gear is provided through a $40,000 Advancing Good grant to the Evansville Fire Fighters Foundation to establish the Stand Down Mask Program for the Evansville Fire Department.
This first-of-its-kind program for the City of Evansville provides every individual firefighter in the city with a new respirator and refills to help enhance their safety protection during emergency response.
“This program was created by firefighters for firefighters, and that’s the important thing to take away for me,” said Evansville Fire Chief Anthony Knight. “While operating during long fire events, we cannot be on continuous supplied air, so we need a way to protect our firefighters the best we can. Firefighter Jesse Marx discovered a solution and working with department administration, the Evansville Fire Fighters Foundation and LyondellBasell, developed an idea and plan of action.”
The LYB global corporate citizenship program, Advancing Good, has three key focus areas: Our Communities, Our Planet, and Tomorrow’s Workforce. An integral part of Advancing Our Communities is championing the health and safety of our first responders.
“We have facilities operating here in Evansville and see first-hand the value and safety our Evansville Fire Department provides to this community with their effective emergency response,” said Ben Ford, LYB Site Manager, Evansville Northbrook Plant. “We are honored to contribute $40,000 to the Evansville Fire Fighters Foundation to establish this new program equipping our first responders with respiratory protection they need to keep our communities safe.”
The Evansville Fire Fighters Foundation, formed in March 2024, was established to support firefighters and the community. The Foundation funds training programs and equipment for firefighters through investments and contributions, while also expanding public workshops and events to further educate the community about fire safety.
“Every day the men and women of Evansville Fire Department put themselves in harm's way to protect our community. As a community we need to ensure they are equipped with the tools they need to come home safely both immediately and in the long term,” said Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry. “I commend and thank LYB for coming onboard as a community partner to fund this important program. Their initial funding to launch the program makes the men and women of the Evansville Fire Department safer.”
“Without this epitome of a community partnership, this program would not be possible. I’m extremely proud and thankful for all of those involved in making this possible,” Chief Knight added.
LYB emphasizes safety as an integral part of its organizational culture, prioritizing the well-being of both its employees and the communities it serves.
