WINNING NARRATIVE 2003




The XXX Fire Department is located with in the City of XXX approximately XX miles south of Minneapolis Minnesota. We are a combination department of XX career  members and XX paid on call members serving the City of XXX and 3.5 surrounding townships with an overall population of 30,000 citizens.
 

Please describe in full the project that you are requesting to be funded.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

 
The XXX Fire Department is requesting funds in the Fire Operations and Fire Fighter Safety Program to purchase confined space rescue equipment. With this equipment our department will be equipped to respond to any type of confined space rescue. The requested equipment would allow us to make quicker, safer and more controlled rescues. Much of the equipment requested in this grant can also be used by our Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) to rescue trapped fire fighters in fire ground situations. This will increase survivability for the victims, increase fire fighter safety, and allow us to meet personal protective equipment requirements of NFPA 1670, OSHA 1910.156 and Minnesota Statute 182.653



How do you plan to use the grant funds for each major budget activity as listed on the budget form?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
The funds requested from the Fire Operations and Fire Fighter Safety Program will be used to purchase a mobile air supply system that will provide a main air supply and a backup emergency air supply to the initial rescuer, the backup rescuer and the victim. Included with this air supply will be a communications system to provide hands free communications between the initial rescuer, backup rescuer and incident command. For those rescues where ventilation is needed for fresh air, or removal of dangerous or combustible gases, the funds will be used to purchase a high CFM ventilation fan, ducting, and connection accessories. We will also purchase two confined space harnesses, spine splint, and multiple lengths of ropes, mobile lighting, two 3000 watt portable generators, bracing lumber and misc. hand tools. The following is an itemized list and total for this funding request:
 
 
2---Lifting bridals and rescue harnesses---------------------- 820.00
1---Oregon spine splint---------------------------------------200.00
2500 feet rope---static and utility lines line-------------------2550.00
2--750 watt Tripod lights with mounts-------------------------725.50
2--HD extension cords and junction boxes--------------------275.00
2---3000 watt portable generators---------------------------2400.00
1---Portable confined space air system----------------------11300.00
1---3 person integrated communication system----------------5800.00
1---Ventilation fan--------------------------------------------1300.00
Flexible Duct and attachments for ventilation fan---------------1850.00
 3---Storage bags----------------------------------------------200.00
Miscellaneous Hand tools-------------------------------------1100.00
Lumber for bracing---------------------------------------------600.00

Air shore kit as follows----------------------------------------26,729.00
6-----ART-A-21 to 28 inch
6-----ART-B-26 to 37 inch
6-----ART-C-33 to 49 inch
6-----ART-E-53 to 45 inch
6-----ART-F84 to 132 inch
6-----ART-E6-6 inch extension
6-----ART-E12-12 inch extension
6-----ART-E24-24 inch extension
18----ART-FB-Flat base
18----ART-R18-23 degree swivel
1-----AIR-050R-Dual high pressure air supply
2-----HDR-10-10 foot HD rail sets of 2
6-----ART-R18-18 inch spot shores sets of 2
2-----ART-LH-lowering hook
Shipping---------------------------------------------------------1200.00
Total Grant request---------------------------------------------57049.50
 

Why this program would be beneficial to your community and/or to your department
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
The XXX Fire Department is located with in the City of XXX approximately XX miles south of Minneapolis Minnesota. We are a combination department of XX career  members and XX paid on call members serving the City of XXX and 3.5 surrounding townships with an overall population of 30,000 citizens. Located within the City of XXX are XX public and private schools grades K through 12 and a college. We are also the home for XX State Academies for the handicapped and XX State Correctional Facility. Some of these State facilities have intricate underground tunnel systems from building to building and large storm sewer tunnels. Within the City of XXX we also have a transfer station for a liquid petroleum pipeline and a natural gas pipeline that runs through the city. As in many rural communities, we have railroad lines that run through town and over the past few years the use of these tracks has increased tremendously.

Our department covers approximately 126 square miles with one major interstate (I-XX) and two highways (XX and XX). We currently have mutual aid agreements with XX other local fire departments.
 
The XXX Fire department covers a large area and responded to 1350 calls last year, including Fires, Medicals, Rescues ie. water, vehicle, confined space, high level and Hazardous materials calls. All of our career members are EMT qualified and train regularly for confined space and trench rescues. The equipment requested in this grant will improve our ability to perform the types of technical rescues that may be required of us while providing the personal protection required for our firefighters. This equipment will provide added protection for the residents and businesses of our community that routinely work in and around confined spaces. None of the XX local fire departments that depend on us for mutual aid currently have this type of equipment. This grant will better equip us to help our fellow departments when we are requested to provide mutual aid.
 
 
Why this project cannot be funded solely through local funding.
----------------------------------------------------------------


 The State of Minnesota is currently projecting a 4.6 billion dollar budget deficit for the 2003/2004 bienniums. The State of Minnesota has proposed cutting the current system of LGA (Local Government Aid) to Minnesota cities to help erase this huge deficit. This means that the City of XXX will realize a budget cut of XX million dollars and our fire department a projected cut of over 15% of our total budget. The City of XXX has agreed however to fund the required10% match if we are successful in receiving this grant.
 
As a department we have worked hard in seeking donations from local businesses and fraternal organizations to obtain items that cannot be purchased through our budget. In 2002 we raised funds through donations to purchase a XXXX boat and equipment for water rescues, a high output positive pressure fan for fire ground ventilation, and a heavy duty tripod for confined space rescues. Since January 2003 we have worked hard to raise enough donations to purchase a 16 foot enclosed trailer to carry our tripod, trench rescue timbers and hopefully the confined space rescue equipment that we will purchase if we receive this grant.
 
As you can see, our community has been very supportive with donations, but due to poor economic conditions, the large amount that would need to be raised through donations and the severe budget cuts proposed for our department, we will not be able to purchase the requested equipment without this grant.
 
 
Any additional information that you would like us to consider when evaluating your application.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
The XXX Fire Department has hit the streets through out our community seeking donations to purchase an enclosed 16foot trailer. Through the hard work and persistence of our career employees we have raised all of the funds necessary. This trailer will be used to store and transport our confined space tripod, and all of the equipment requested in this grant. Having this variety of equipment in a mobile trailer will give us a quicker response to critical confined space rescues such as trench rescues, building collapses, grain bins and silos, RIT, and industrial entrapment situations. The ability to respond faster and with the proper equipment will enable us to save lives while insuring firefighter safety.  We will also be better equipped to offer immediate help to the eight departments that do not have the equipment or training and depend on us for mutual aid in all types of situations.

We feel that we are the type of department that the Fire Act Grant was set up to help and we appreciate the opportunity to apply for this grant program.