BOTHELL — The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Monday that it is giving more than $700,000 to fire departments in Bothell and two other areas to buy new fire-fighting equipment.

The grant will allow the Bothell, Shoreline and Northshore fire departments — Northshore serves Lake Forest Park and Kenmore — to better coordinate fire-fighting efforts, said Lisa Allen, spokeswoman for the Bothell Fire Department.

The three departments assist one another on major fires, and they train together, but each has different equipment, she said.

The $712,755 grant will buy 121 self-contained breathing apparatus units, which provide clean air to firefighters as they combat fires. Four units are specially designed for confined spaces.

Each unit includes a mask and air cylinder. The grant also pays for an extra 85 masks and 115 air cylinders.

All three departments had breathing units that needed to be replaced, Allen said.

By using the same equipment, firefighters will be able to share apparatus at fire scenes, if necessary, she said.

The grant is one of a series that FEMA has made to fire departments this year.

"We’re proud to be able to provide this essential lifesaving equipment," FEMA spokesman Mike Howard said. FEMA is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The three departments will chip in a total of more than $70,000 to meet the grant’s conditions.

In August, the federal government gave Snohomish County Fire District 17 in Granite Falls $123,408 to buy portable radios and other communications equipment, upgrade its air packs and buy a thermal-imaging camera. It also gave county Fire District 28 in Index $101,578 to buy new protective clothing, communications equipment, air packs and a gas monitor.

Reporter David Olson: 425-339-3452 or dolson@heraldnet.com.