South Sound News

Firefighters in East Pierce County to get body armor

Firefighters in East Pierce County will soon join other local fire departments in using body armor.

Fire officials say with more incidents such as mass shootings across the country, firefighters need an extra layer of protection when responding to crime scenes.

By this summer, firefighters in East Pierce County will join other local fire departments in equipping themselves with body armors.

A photo from the News Tribune shows West Pierce firefighters wearing similar ballistic vests during a multi-agency training.

They have had them since 2013. Tacoma Fire have been using the vests since the 1990s.

Seattle police say body armor is what helped save the life of one of two officers shot in downtown Seattle on Thursday.

A Kevlar vest stopped the suspect’s bullet when it hit a female officer in the stomach.

The new body armor for East Pierce Fire will cost around $76,000.

That will pay for 32 sets of ballistic vests and tactical helmets.

The new gear is set to arrive in about two months.