The San Diego Gas & Electric Company announced Wednesday Sept. 27, a $100,000 grant that will help protect the San Diego area from wildfires. This will allow local emergency-services providers to purchase an array of essential equipment.

In an article by CBS8, Dave Geier, utility's senior vice president of electric operations said, "By collaborating with fire agencies to help provide critical equipment they need and continuing to improve our electric system, we are making our region more prepared today than it was yesterday."

The grant will allow the San Diego County Fire Authority and firefighting agencies in Alpine, Julian and Borrego Springs to obtain new state-of-the-art equipment, including upgraded maps and radios, self-contained breathing units, medical equipment, and mobile computers on fire engines, and will also pay for additional education and outreach on defensible space and other vital fire protections, according to SDG&E.

The utility has donated almost $1 million worth of shareholder funds through its "SAFE San Diego" initiative, which benefits fire agencies, councils, community teams, to educate the public on fire prevention, preparedness and recovery efforts.

The grant makes an impact on helping reduce response times and fire damages to land life and properties.