WINNING NARRATIVE 2004
The XYZ Fire Department is located in the City of XYZ, in
XXX County in Minnesota. XYZ Fire is located approximately 25
miles south of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The project that we are requesting to be funded:
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After conducting a risk analysis and reviewing recent injuries to
our firefighters, the XYZ Fire Fire Department has determined that in
order to provide needed protection to the XYZ Fire Department members
and
community resources, as well as to comply with state and federal laws,
funding is needed to provide additional basic personal protective
equipment. The XYZ Fire Department is seeking funding for the
program area of XYZ Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety for the
activities of Personal Protective Equipment Acquisition. We are seeking
funding in the amount of $171,265.00 to allow us to purchase new SCBA
units, replacement SCBA units, and basic turnout gear.
The XYZ Fire Department currently has 41 firefighters. Our
responding apparatus have 37 seated positions, which is the typical
number of firefighters responding to our incidents, and only 27
non-compliant SCBA’s in our inventory. Of the 27 SCBA’s in our current
inventory, none of the units meet the current NFPA 1981, 2002 edition
standard and Minnesota OSHA regulations. Our inventory consists of
Scott 2-A’s, 2.2’s and 4.5’s that range from 10 to 20 years in age.
These units are frequently out of service because of malfunctions.
Seven of our 2-A and 2.2 units can no longer be used because repair
parts are no longer being manufactured for them or the cost for needed
repairs would be more than the cost of a new unit, which we cannot
afford to buy. We also have interoperability issues because multiple
different styles of SCBA’s in our inventory. By not having SCBA’s in
the quantity needed, in compliance with current NFPA standards and
Minnesota OSHA regulations or being inoperable, our firefighters safety
is being put in jeopardy because of inadequate or non-existent
respiratory protection equipment and our ability to provide mission
critical services is negatively affected.
In order to provide NFPA and Minnesota OSHA compliant respiratory
protection for 100% of our on scene firefighters, we need to purchase
10 additional and 27 replacement SCBA’s. If successful in this process,
the awarded funds would be used to purchase 37 NFPA 1981-2002 edition
compliant Scott 4.5 Air-Pak Fifty SCBA’s equipped with an integral PASS
device that is automatically activated when the air supply is turned
on, heads up display, 45 minute lightweight cylinders, RIT connection,
face mask equipped with a voice amplification device, 45 minute
lightweight spare cylinders and facepiece bag.
Over the past two years, we have added six firefighters to the
department. These new members are currently using old non-compliant
turnout gear that was due to be discarded because of damage or wear.
These members have the training and the desire to be very productive
members in our department, but because of the condition of their
turnout gear, we cannot utilize them to their fullest potential on the
fire ground. In order to provide these new members with the safest
possible work environment, we need to provide them with new NFPA 1971-
2000 compliant basic turnout gear. Due to lack of funding, we will not
be able to provide this gear in the foreseeable future.
If successful in this process, the awarded funds would be used to
purchase six complete sets of NFPA 1971 – 2000 edition compliant
turnout gear which would include bunker pants and coat, boots, gloves,
hoods and helmets.
How we plan to use the grant funds for each major budget activity:
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The XYZ Fire Department is a member of the Minnesota Fire Agencies
Purchasing Consortium. This is a group of Fire Departments
that jointly bid out common fire department items to get the lowest
possible bid. The goal is for everyone to get compliant, quality items
at the best possible price. Whenever possible, this program is used to
for making equipment purchases for our Department. Where applicable the
bids from this program are reflected in the cost estimates indicated
below as well as the project cost details.
If successful in this process, awarded funds would be used to purchase
the following:
Personal Protective Equipment:
• 10 - New NFPA 1981, 2002 compliant Scott 4.5 Air Pack Fifty
SCBA’s with RIT Connection, Face Mask, 45 Minute Carbon Cylinders, 45
Minute Spare Carbon Cylinder, Pak Alert Integrated PASS, Heads Up
Display, Voice Amplifier and Facepiece Storage Bag @ $4,345.00 each =
$43,450.00
• 27 - Replacement NFPA 1981, 2002 compliant Scott 4.5 Air Pack
Fifty SCBA’s with RIT Connection, Face Mask, 45 Minute Carbon
Cylinders, 45 Minute Spare Carbon Cylinder, Pak Alert Integrated PASS,
Heads Up Display, Voice Amplifier and Facepiece Storage Bag @ $4,345.00
each = $117,315.00
• 6 – New NFPA 1971,2000 Compliant Bunker Pants and Coats @ $1,400.00
each = $8,400.00
• 6 – New NFPA 1971,2000 Compliant Pairs of XYZ Fire Fighting Bunker
Boots @ $110.00 each = $660.00
• 6 – New NFPA 1971,2000 Compliant Structural Fire Fighting Helmets
with Face Shield @ $170.00 each = $1,020.00
• 6 – New NFPA 1971,2000 Compliant Protective Hoods @ $30.00 each =
$180.00
• 6 – New NFPA 1971,2000 Compliant Pairs of Fire Fighting Gloves @
$40.00 each = $240.00
Total Request = $171,265.00
The Department members and the equipment dealers will handle
administrative processing, training on use and maintenance, and
inventory implementation at no additional cost.
As required, 10%, or $17,126.50, of the funding requested in this
proposal will be provided from the donated funds already obtained
through fund raising efforts.
Why this program would be beneficial to the community and/or to our
department:
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Because of the environment in which they perform their duties,
firefighters require the best personal protective equipment available.
If successful in this process, the equipment purchased would
benefit the community by having a department that has the equipment
needed to put 100% of our assets to work at an incident. The City of
XYZ have 5 schools that over 3,900 elementary age students as well as
6 senior citizen housing facilities that house approximately 1,500
residents. With our current SCBA situation, we could only put about
half of our resources to work at an incident involving one of these
facilities. As a result, there is a greater chance of injury or death
to these students and residents. The personal protective equipment
requested in this application would allow us to put more of our
resources to work protecting these students and residents and quickly
and safely eliminate the danger.
The City of is currently classified as a rural
community, but that is quickly changing over to a suburban community.
Because of it’s proximity to the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as
wall as the international airport and major transportation routs, the
community has experienced a substantial amount of growth in population
and industrial/manufacturing businesses the past few years. Between
1990 and 2000, the population of the city has more than doubled, and
there are no indications that this growth will be subsiding in the near
future. has a very diverse population in terms of age. The
City has a very large population of seniors over 65 as well as a large
and continually growing population of children under 14.
Over the past few years, several manufacturing and distribution
firms have moved into the City of XYZ. These facilities include
wood, plastics and metal manufacturing and finishing. Because of the
chemicals and hazardous materials used in their processes, the personal
protective equipment requested in this proposal are vital to the
protection of our personnel in any response to these facilities. These
facilities provide much needed employment to our community and any down
time to these facilities would put great hardship on the employees and
business because of loss of income. At this time, we do not feel that
we have the personal protective equipment to properly combat an
incident at one of these facilities. The personal protective equipment
requested in this application would allow us to put 100% of our
resources to work in a response to these facilities. This will allow
for a quicker conclusion to the incident. As a result, damage and down
time to the facility will be reduced.
The City of XYZ is also the home to the XXX air traffic control center.
This center is
responsible for the movement of aircraft within XXX as
well as part of XXX. Also located in is a XXX Company natural gas
pumping station and pipeline system
that is responsible for providing natural gas to utility companies in
Minnesota, XXX, and XXX. These are extremely important
facilities to our region. The services that these facilities provide go
well beyond the area that our department serves and are vital to a
great number of people and businesses. It is extremely important that
we be equipped to safely and effectively respond to any incident
involving these facilities in order to reduce the potential for
catastrophic life or economic loss. At this time, we do not feel that
we have the personal protective equipment to properly combat an
incident at one of these facilities. The personal protective equipment
requested in this application would allow us to better equipped to
combat any incidents at these facilities.
The benefit to our Department will be the reduction of risk to the
fire fighter by having the quantities of reliable personal protective
equipment that meets current NFPA standards and Minnesota OSHA
regulations that allows us to utilize 100% of our on scene
firefighters. This spreads the workload and reduces stress to our
firefighters allowing for quicker conclusions to incidents.
Our firefighters will be more effective because they will have
lighter, more reliable equipment, and will be able to communicate more
clearly on the fire ground. This will reduce fatigue and increase the
safety to our fire fighters. They will also have a consistent style of
SCBA to use. This will also eliminate the interoperability issues that
we currently have and increase safety by reducing possible errors in
equipment use because of the operation of the multiple different styles
of SCBA’s that we currently have.
If successful in this process, our firefighters would no longer be
putting themselves in a situation of undue risk because 100% of them
will have the basic personal protective equipment that they need to
combat an incident safely. With our current situation, there are
instances when additional risk is placed on firefighters because we do
not have the quantities of functioning basic personal protective
equipment that is needed.
The Department as well as the community as a whole will also by
benefit because of reduced maintenance and repair costs that are
currently being incurred as a result of the age and lack of parts
availability for the equipment that will be replaced with the awarded
funds.
Why this project cannot be funded solely through local funding:
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The 2000 census indicated that the City of XYZ has
experienced over 100% growth in population between 1990 and 2000. This
growth has not subsided and the City now has an estimated population of
over 19,000. There have also been major changes in State funding
contributions to local municipalities. During the 2003, the State of
Minnesota was facing an over four billion dollar budget deficit. The
State substantially cut their local government aid funding to help
erase this deficit. To further complicate this matter, the State is
eliminating the authority of local communities to raise local property
taxes and to issue bonds to maintain or fund new acquisitions or
building projects. This has put a great hardship on the City of XYZ and
has resulted in a 16% cut to the XYZ Fire Department’s
equipment budget.
As a result of the population growth and funding changes, the City
has had to refocus their priorities on expanding the City’s
infrastructure to accommodate this growth with a reduced amount of
available funding. Every Department within the City has grown. This
growth has required the City to purchase additional equipment and hire
additional staff just to maintain a constant level of required
services. The additional staff and equipment has required the City to
construct new facilities and remodel existing facilities. In the case
of the XYZ Fire Department, we have added six firefighters over the
past 2
years. However, the funding required to provide the additional
personnel with basic personal protective equipments has not been
provided because if the City was to fund our requests, additional tax
supported debt would be required. The City’s current environment does
not leave additional room in the tax levy for the additional debt
required to support the purchase of these items without creating a
financial burden beyond the means of the community.
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. We recently raised funds through
donations to purchase a thermal imaging camera and an automated
external defibrillator. We also have annual fundraising events, but it
would take us several years raise the funds required to purchase the
equipment requested in this application through these events.
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.
Additional relevant information:
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We feel that there is a real need within our community and our
Department for the equipment requested within this application. We have
an SCBA compressor and cascade system that meets current NFPA standards
and Minnesota OSHA regulations.
We also have a comprehensive inspection and maintenance program in
place for all of our equipment. This will insure that the life span for
any equipment purchased with awarded funds will benefit the department
well beyond the grant year.
The City of XYZ is located in XXX County and is a member
of the XXX County Mutual Aid Agreement. XXX County has a
population of over 362,000 and over 500 firefighters. Through this
mutual aid agreement, the communities of XXX County support one
another with equipment and personnel. The personal protective equipment
requested in this application will allow the XYZ Fire Department
personnel to support these other communities. This agreement also
ensures that the fullest possible coverage and service is available to
all communities within the region.
Thank you for your consideration.