Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program (AFGP)

The Team Behind The Scene.

  Tom Harrington
 click here for panel review team pictures

 Recently while I was working on a new curriculum on needed to spell the word “chandelier”. As you know the ending of chandelier is some what tricky so I looked it up in the Webster dictionary on my desk.  When I found it, I also noticed that two words down from chandelier was the word “change”. I thought to myself, boy we sure have been experiencing that lately in the fire service. 

 While looking at the definition of "change" I notice there were four other definitions. The first definition read; to put or take a thing in the place of another, and my thoughts drifted to the firefighters that were wearing the most modern safety gear available because of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.  I thought for a moment of all of those firefighters that didn't know “the rest of the story”. But there were more definitions so I read on.

 The second definition read; to exchange, the third said to make different. So far Webster had not come up with anything profound, so reading on I came to the forth definition. I was glad that I did. The forth definition said, listed in Webster read, "to leave one train, bus etcetera and board another".

 After reading that definition to myself I thought, boy what could better describe what's been happening to the fire service in Minnesota and across the country. Change.... “To leave one train or bus and board another.” 

 For years fire departments in Minnesota have been struggling to acquire safety equipment that would make their job safer. For decades firefighters have been reluctant to get involved with federal grants because of the paper work involved. Tom Harrington could have created another typical federal grant with tons of associated paperwork but he didn't. He created a program that revolutionized the fire service mentality towards grants and grant writing.

 The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program more commonly referred to as the FIRE Act Grant has made the “change” as many firefighters have managed to get on a different bus that has taken them to a pot of gold and a safer work environment.  They are now able to acquire safety equipment that is making a difference to the survivability of our firefighters and indirectly the public they serve.

 Great men and eminent men have monuments in bronze and marble set up for them, but this man, Tom Harrington, has from behind the scenes of news papers and cameras, become enmeshed in thousands of hearts of firefighters who have become the recipients of his work. Some of us who have desired to achieve and become somewhat of the stuff that he was made of, though to an infinitely lesser degree.

 Tom was tasked with taking the dreams and desires of firefighters via our U.S. Congressmen and Representatives and “changing” their words into a language that we can understand via a document called a “Program Guidance for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program”. He has allowed firefighters from across this country to make a “change” and get on a different bus.

  “I have the greatest admiration and respect for Tom Harrington. He was a great human being with a deep understanding and compassion for the fire service.

 For those of you who may not beware of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, here are some of Tom's words;

 The purpose of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program is to award one-year grants directly to fire departments of a State to enhance their abilities with respect to fire and fire-related hazards.  Our primary goal is to provide assistance to meet fire departments’ firefighting and emergency response needs.  This program seeks to support departments that lack the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and their firefighting personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards they may face.   The authority of this program is derived from the Federal Fire Protection and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. §§ 2201 et seq.), as amended.  In fiscal year 2003, Congress appropriated a total of $745,125,000 to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to carry out the activities of this Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.  On March 1, 2003, FEMA and the USFA came under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  For the 2004 program year, Congress appropriated $750,000,000 and transferred the program's authority from FEMA/USFA to the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) within DHS.  Congress also authorized the use of up to five percent for administering the grant program.  The appropriated funds are available until September 30, 2005.

As a side note of how dedicated Tom and his team is, just remember this. Update on 2003 (Aug. 16th 2004): Staff are processing year-end awards using the funds negotiated out of other 2003 awards, de-obligations, and declinations. So the numbers below reflect the first wave of those awards. Tom and his staff estimate that they will also have approximately $6.0 million more in unused  administrative funds (they have already used about $20.0 million of admin. money for grants). Staff have $700,775,000 in the pipeline for grants to date (note that the guidance and notice targeted $680 million). Staff estimate another $6.0 million in awards from unused administrative dollars and have earmarked $27.5 million (awarded $27.368 million) for fire prevention and safety.

The first year in 2001, for the first time ever, Congress approved a two-year authorization providing financial grants to fire departments. During the application period of 30 days (April 1, 2002 – May 2, 2001) Tom's team responded to over 11,000 telephone calls with grant-related questions and 8,615 e-mail requests for grant writing assistance. When the application period expired 31,295 grant applications had been received from 18,915 fire departments. Applications were scored and ranked against pre-established criteria by a peer review panel.   This is the type of operation that Tom organizes and remember, the first year was done on paper. 

Reading the emails and news reports from Washington I have come to realize that this program may take a drastic “change” in the near future as DHS lacks the value of the firefighters needs. In my opinion and the opinions of others, it is apparent to me that if the fire service does not step forward to help this program continue its historic course, it will “change”. Remember this is the only Federal grant program where the funds have been moved from the Federal level to the local level the fastest and with the least amount bureaucracy and expense. It would be devastating to see what Tom and his team have been able to create come crashing down without a fight.

 Recently Jan Lee and I were fortunate enough to be in the presents of firefighters from all fifty states as we reviewed applications for the FIRE Act Grants. It struck us both as we reflected on what this program has done for firefighters and their safety and reminded us of those back in Minnesota that have told us such things as “thanks for making it possible for us to get a grant and good gear”. We both realized that it is not us, it is because of the work and dedication of Tom Harrington and his team.

 As an individual reflects upon their tenure at work, it's only natural to wonder whether they have made an impact.

 Tom Harrington need not wonder if he has made an impact.  Many of us have had the privilege of working with Tom ever since the beginning of the program.  No matter where we traveled in our state and the country ... Tom and his team should be known by those fire departments that are involved in the FIRE Act Grant Program.  Those of us that converse with him frequently recognize him for his often quick dissertations to solve our problems and answer our questions about the grant process, but more frequently and concurrently he is known as a Federal employee who truly cares about his fellow man and the fire service of this country. 

 Tom is a joy to know and be around because you always know that is representing the best interests of firefighters.  For a person who had little knowledge of the fire service, he continually and correctly brings the unbiased fire perspective to any conversation, and would bring you back to a realization that the FIRE Act Grant Program is for every firefighter in this country and not just for your small part of the world. 

 As a champion of Federal services to all parts of the fire service in our great country, he sincerely represents the best in a Federal employee - one who cares. It is a crime that more DHS employees don’t have the same values as Tom and his team have for the fire service.

 We wish Tom and his colleagues and associates long and healthy lives free from the worry and full of rewards and comfort in the knowledge that they have impacted the Minnesota Fire Service and made it better than the way they found it.

 The photos you see (click here) are members of Tom's team. Ms. Terry N. Fisher Vice President from McKing Consulting Corporation (MCKING) and the rest of the McKing team that supports the Fire Act Grant Program. The photos were taken during the panel review process at the NFA.

Respectfully,

 Warren and Jan Lee Jorgenson

 (Two more people who are better off after their association with Tom Harrington)