WINNING NARRATIVE 2005



The XXX Department is located in the City of XXX, in VVV County, Minnesota, which is about 60 miles north of Minneapolis and St. Paul in East Central Minnesota.

Project Description:

The XXX Department currently has 32 firefighters that have the training and ability to respond to all hazards and emergencies. Due to budget cuts the last several years, we feel this project is vital to meet the essential basic safety needs of our firefighters by providing NFPA and OSHA compliant personal protective equipment. We have more than the $12,086 5% required match; we have an additional 5% contribution bringing the total to $24,174 which is a 10% match for this grant.


By providing new personal protective equipment for our firefighters, we will be compliant with MN law 182.653. We also believe there are many safety features to gain from the new technology available in personal protective equipment.


We are seeking $217,563.00 in funding from this grant program for the purchase of the following items:
· Thirty-two complete sets of Personal Protective Turnout Gear
· Twenty-five MSA 4500-PSI Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
· Twenty-five additional MSA 4500-PSI composite cylinders
· One 10 HP - 12 CFM compressor w/ CO monitor
· One (4) cylinder, 6000-PSI cascade fill system
· One Class 2 containment fill station (two position)
· One handheld MSA Evolution 5000 Thermal Image Camera


Upon completing a risk assessment of our department, we found many of our firefighters have turnout gear that is either outdated or worn out, having been handed down from retiring firefighters. Our goal is to become NFPA 1971 and OHSA compliant in meeting the basic safety needs by providing a complete set of PPE to 100 percent of our active firefighters. This will include turnout coat, bunker pants, suspenders, boots, helmet, hood, and gloves. The new SCBA’s will also be NFPA 1981 and OHSA 1910.134 compliant with an integrated PASS device, heads-up display (HUD) and have universal rescue connections for rapid intervention teams. Also, to allow firefighters better maneuverability and access in confined areas, the new SCBA’s will be equipped with smaller, lightweight 4500-PSI cylinders.


This funding will also include purchase of a new 10 HP compressor with a Carbon Monoxide Monitoring System and a 4-cylinder 6000-PSI cascade system to be OSHA 1910.134 compliant. This system will allow us to fill the new 4500-PSI cylinders that we have requested. This will replace our 14 year old, non-compliant, 5 HP compressor and 4500-PSI cascade system. Our current compressor system is not equipped with a CO Monitoring System. In the last several years, we failed to comply with the required specification for CO levels under NFPA 1500 Air Quality Specifications. We could provide better quality breathing air for our firefighters if this situation can be corrected. We are also requesting a two-position, Class 2 containment fill station for filling cylinders that is NFPA 1901 compliant, which will contain any fragments from a ruptured cylinder. This is something our department does not currently have.


Additionally, this funding will include purchase of 1 handheld MSA Thermal Image Camera along with the transmitter and receiving station to be installed in our first-out engine. This MSA Thermal Image Camera will supplement an older CAIRNS IRIS Thermal Image Helmet we currently have in service. The CAIRNS unit has proven undependable with high maintenance and battery costs over the years. We believe the new technology in Thermal Imaging Cameras along with the ease of use can provide an increased measure of safety to our firefighters and can benefit our community.

Financial Need:

The XXX Department has incurred a 17 percent reduction in our budget for the last 3 years. This, coupled with the increased cost of equipment, maintenance and operating expenses, has made it difficult to keep up with replacement of our personal protective gear. Also, in the past, we have been unsuccessful in building a much needed, larger fire station and have fallen short of our objective in replacing used, outdated equipment. Last year, due to safety concerns, our department found that replacement of our oldest pumper was critical. In July 2004, our department took delivery of a new pumper/rescue truck. The funding we had set aside for truck replacement did not cover this cost, our city had to seek a loan of $140,000 for the remaining cost, becoming a fixed cost to our department for the next 5 years.


We are currently seeking to hire an additional 15 firefighters in the next two years. This is due to current staffing levels, which are below the maximum of 40 firefighters our department allows. Because we don’t have the money in our budget, we have asked our neighboring departments for any used gear they could donate for the new firefighters that will be hired.

At this time we are also in desperate need to have a sub-station to protect a large, fast-growing urban area on the outskirts of our service area. This sub-station has been identified as a critical link by one of the townships we service. Also, there is currently no money being set aside for truck replacement or capital improvements for the fire department. We greatly appreciate the financial aid this grant would bring to our department. This will allow us to provide the proper gear and equipment for our firefighters to avoid risk or injuries.

To provide you a better understanding of our current financial situation, we have included the following budget information:

City of XXX Budget for 2005:
$2,416,430-------General Fund
$795,600---------Police
$412,455---------Public Works
$162,715---------Fire Department
$1,650------------Emergency Management
$3,800------------Animal Control
$99,440----------Parks & Recreation
$321,630--------Other Divisions

The total budget for the City of XXX is $4,213,720

Fire Department Budget for 2005:
$47,500----------Firefighters, Chief Salary
$4,515-----------FICA & PERA
$5,435-----------Medical & Life Insurance
$4,300-----------Advertising, Printing, Publishing, Telephone & Postage
$1,150-----------Cleaning & Waste Removal
$3,000-----------Radio & Pager Charges
$16,500---------Utilities and other charges
$3,000-----------SCBA maintenance
$2,500-----------Other – Professional, Safety Program Supplies
$23,000---------Maintenance, Repair, Small Tools & Equipment
$1,000-----------Membership & Subscriptions
$14,200---------Travel – Mileage, Schools, Training, Lodging, Meals and Per Diem
$12,000---------Uniforms and Recruiting
$2,750-----------Fuel, Taxes, Licenses
$3,500-----------General & Office Supplies
$18,365---------Fire Relief – Local Support

The total budget for the XXX Fire Department is $162,715

We do have new money set aside for the 5% match required with this grant. We will also contribute another 5% towards this match, making the total 10%.

The following is an itemized list of equipment we would like to purchase with this grant funding.

Project Items:

1). Equipment Category:
a). 10 HP - 12 CFM compressor w/CO Monitor System-----------------------------$17,040.00
b). 4-cylinder cascade fill system, 6000-PSI-------------------------------------------$4,870.00
c). Two-position, Class 2 containment fill station-------------------------------------$5,700.00
d). MSA Evolution 5000 Thermal Image Camera-------------------------------------$12,315.00
e). Transmitter for MSA Evolution 5000 Camera-------------------------------------$1,950.00
f). Receiving Station for MSA Evolution 5000 Camera------------------------------$2,410.00

2). Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Category:
a). MSA MMR XTREME 4500-PSI SCBA units, 25 @ $5000.00/each----------$125,000.00
(Includes pack & harness, regulator, composite cylinder, integrated PASS device,
Heads-Up display and Rapid Intervention Coupling)
b). MSA STEALTH H-30 4500-PSI composite cylinder, 25 @ $900.00/each----$22,500.00
c). Janesville Turnout Gear, 32 sets @ $1,175.00/each-------------------------------$37,600.00
(Includes coat, pants, and suspenders)
d). Traditional fiberglass composite helmet, 32 @ $225.00/each-------------------$7,200.00
e). Nomex firefighting hood, 32 @ $22.00/each---------------------------------------$704.00
f). Structural firefighting gloves, 32 pair @ $39.00/each-----------------------------$1,248.00
g). Black Diamond rubber boots, 32 pair @ $100.00/each---------------------------$3,200.00

Total project cost is $241,737.00
90% requested from Federal Grant funds: $217,563.00
10% match from the City of XXX: $24,174.00

Cost / Benefit:

The XXX Department serves six fast growing townships as well as the City of XXX. We also have mutual aid agreements with AAA, BBB, CCC, DDD, EEE, FFF,GGG, HHH, III and JJJ fire departments. If our request for funding is approved, it will provide the needed safety for our firefighters while responding to calls in our service area as well as each time we respond to assist our mutual aid departments. During these times of budget cuts, increased costs for firefighting equipment, fire protection, insurance and rising property values, it is imperative that our firefighters be as well equipped and trained as possible.


If our request for this equipment is not funded, it will jeopardize the safety and health of our firefighters, our community and our neighboring communities. As we address daily fire department operations and fiscal planning into the future, we are committed to continue this project and the benefits of this project beyond this grant year. Our main goal and purpose is to keep our firefighters safe and to serve our community and all its residents to the best of our ability.

Statement of effect:

The XXX Department responds to over 200 calls per year. Our department is dedicated to protecting lives and property within our community. This funding will help provide the necessary equipment to protect our firefighters from all hazards encountered each time we respond to an alarm. We service a large geographical area, approximately 155 square miles, with diversification ranging from having the second largest liquor distiller in the United States to a vast area of rural farmland, forest and urban development.


Our department protects many businesses, large industrial facilities and critical infrastructure within our city. Other significant structures in our city include 2 Elementary Schools, 1 Middle School, 1 High School, 1 Nursing Home, 1 Assisted Living Facility, 5 elderly apartment buildings, 2 Hotels, 1 Hospital – HHH  Hospital & Clinic, 1 Airport, 1 FAA Flight Service Station and 1 Natural Gas Pipeline. This makes for a challenging cross-section of firefighting and rescue skills needed to keep our firefighters well trained.


We also respond to many vehicle accidents, as the City of XXX is located along a major four-lane highway that is heavily traveled by commuters and weekend vacationers heading for destinations in northern Minnesota. This highway is also a major trucking route with the potential for hazardous material incidents. These factors present a multitude of challenges for our department. We are committed to the health, safety, and preservation of property for all residents who are served by our department.


Our first request is to purchase new Personal Protective Gear for all of our firefighters. In addition to responding to over 200 calls per year, our department conducts several live burn exercises each year. We also invite our mutual aid departments to these live burns; we’ve found this to be the best training scenario for firefighters. Live burn training also promotes interoperability with neighboring communities and firefighters from our mutual aid departments. However, if a firefighters turnout gear does not fit properly it affects their comfort level, confidence level, and sense of security while conducting firefighting and rescue activities. Physical and mental strength are key to a firefighters personal health and safety while on the scene or during training exercises. We feel this request is consistent with grant program priorities.


Our second request is to purchase (25) new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). In addition to the MSA 4500-PSI SCBA’s this funding will include purchase of a new compressor, 6000-PSI cascade system and Class 2 containment fill station. At a structure fire last year, we had a failure of the low-pressure audible alarm on our SCBA’s, this happened to two of our firefighters while working inside a structure fire. The firefighters had to evacuate the structure immediately because they ran out of air. This is of real concern considering the number of large industrial and commercial structures within our city. We believe with the new NFPA 1981 standard for the heads-up display and universal rescue coupling that this will provide a better measure of safety for our firefighters.


Our third request is to purchase 1 handheld MSA Thermal Image Camera and supporting equipment. We have in service a first generation CAIRNS IRIS Thermal Image Helmet. This unit has been undependable with battery problems; we’ve had difficulties using this tool effectively at structure fires. This condition negatively affects our ability to provide mission critical services to our community. We believe the new technology in Thermal Imaging Cameras would significantly benefit our firefighters and our community, specifically individuals 14 and younger and 65 and older.


In January 2004 we responded to a fatal house fire in which 3 children of the ages 4, 5, and 13 died in the fire. An adult and another 5-year-old child managed to break a window and escape. Firefighters entered the structure and conducted a primary search. They immediately found the two youngest children, but unfortunately it was already too late. This was our department’s second fatal house fire. In December 2001, we responded to a house fire in which 2 adults and a 13-year-old child died in the fire. We believe that our request to fund the above mentioned equipment would increase our ability to respond to all hazards and provide the essential protection needed for our firefighters and our community.


We would like to express our appreciation for the opportunities this grant program would provide our department.

Thank you for your consideration.
XXX Department