Firehouse Subs Donates Nearly $20K in Equipment to O'Fallon Fire District

The O'Fallon Fire Protection District accepted a donation of some much-needed equipment Wednesday at the Firehouse Subs restaurant off Highway K.

Firehouse Subs franchisee Brian Collins and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation development manager Meghan Bender made the presentation of the donation of 30 structural firefighters' helmets and a thermal imaging camera. The donation equaled more than $17,800.

The camera will detect body heat and hot spots in burning buildings and allows firefighters to reach victims quicker and put out deadly fires.

Firefighters and city officials were treated to subs and desserts before the presentation.

The Firehouse Subs franchise was started by two brothers and former firefighters. The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was started in 2005 with the mission of providing funding, life-saving equipment, and educational opportunities to first-responders and public safety organizations.

Each restaurant sells their used five-gallon pickle buckets to customers for $2, which goes to the foundation's work. In addition, each location has a donation canisters and customers are asked to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar.