MFD awarded grant from We Energies for combustible gas detector

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A natural gas leak can be a potentially deadly situation but often times people don't even notice until it's too late -- and that includes first responders. 

On Wednesday, Aug. 26, the We Energies Foundation awarded a grant to the Milwaukee Fire Department to purchase a "combustible gas detector" 

The detector it plans to purchase is the same one used by We Energies crews when they are called to a scene, and is much more sensitive than the equipment the fire department uses now. 

"It'll basically help us recognize if there's a gas leak or a CO2 issue sooner, keeping our citizens, and our firefighters a little safer," said Milwaukee Fire Department Chief Mike Rohlfing.

The We Energies grant program is awarding more than 30 local fire and law enforcement agencies more than $50,000 this year. It'll go toward purchasing a variety of equipment from thermal imaging cameras, combustible gas detectors, extrication equipment and other lifesaving tools.