US branded work and outdoor footwear company LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. has been awarded a supply and delivery contract for its Gunnison Bunker Boot for Canada’s Calgary Fire Department.

The contract for the boot–which is manufactured at the company's ISO-9001 certified manufacturing facility in Portland, Oregon, USA–commences immediately for a one-year term with nine optional years. The first order is expected to be fulfilled as early as December 31.

The Gunnison boot has been designed to provide better strength and thermal protection while reducing weight. It is certified to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA-1971) standards and the upper is constructed from a combination of 7.5oz leather/Defender material and 750 Kevlar/Nomex, rather than the traditional all leather upper.

Additional safety features of the boot include a broader ASTM certified steel toe, a Crosstech protective fabric lining and a stitchdown, thermo-moulded heel counter for comfort and added stability. The Gunnison was the first LaCrosse boot to offer the puncture protection of the company’s Flex-Shield midsole, offering more lightweight, flexible puncture protection then a traditional steel midsole and additionally does not transfer heat or cold.

LaCrosse has also developed the Gunnison to include the new Vibram Olympia Fire & Ice outsole to provide improved traction on icy and frozen surfaces. The outsole resists the chemical changes that take place in a traditional outsole after being rapidly heated and cooled. The Gunnison also includes comfort fit features, from resoleable stitchdown construction to a tapered upper design with pull straps for easy entry.

The Calgary Fire Department employs over 1,000 fire fighters.