FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Firefighters with the Fresno Fire Department will soon be equipped with bulletproof vests, city officials announced Tuesday.

According to Councilmember Mike Karbassi, firefighters often respond to calls in unpredictable and potentially dangerous circumstances, and ballistic vests would add an extra layer of protection so crews can focus on the task at hand without compromising their safety.

Officials say the decision to provide all of Fresno's firefighters with bulletproof vests follows national trends of using ballistic vests for emergency response preparedness. City officials add that ballistic vests are designed to be lightweight, durable, and compatible with the already 50 pounds of equipment they typically carry.

The move to provide bulletproof vests fo

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