WINNING NARRATIVE 2005
The XXX Fire Department is located 135 miles south of
Minneapolis/St.Paul and serves a community with a population of 214.
Project Description and Budget:
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After a risk assessment and analysis, the XXX Fire Department is
seeking funds from the Fire Fighting Vehicle Program for a new Pumper.
The project consists of the replacement of two existing unsafe trucks
which are a 21 year old pumper and a 40 year old pumper.
The 40 year old pumper needs to be replaced and taken out of
service due to the fact that it is non-compliant, un-safe and does not
meet the 1901 NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards.
The new pumper that we would like to purchase would be 1901 NFPA
compliant.
We would use a standard chassis with a diesel and a load range that
would perform as expected and reduce concern for firefighter safety
over the life of the truck. We would go with the standard pump which
would be a 1250 gpm (gallon per minute) pump.
Also, it would have foam capabilities on board. A 1500 gallon water
tank would be a request as we are a rural community and we need to
carry our own water to the majority of our coverage area. Certain
equipment is required by the manufacturer so that the unit is 1901 NFPA
compliant; the unit would be equipped so that we are compliant.
Examples of the equipment would be a ladder, axes, intake hoses, and
nozzles.
We propose to purchase this new pumper at a cost of $162,000.00. Of
this amount we have been able to come up with $24,300.00 through
fund-rasing efforts by our department to a truck fund over the last 6
years. The money raised would cover the 5% matching share plus an
additional 10% that would leave a balance of $137,700.00.
This would help improve our service as well as improve the safety
for department members and the community with a pumper that does more
with added reliability.
Total Cost .......$162,000.00
5% Match ..........$8,100.00
Additional Funds .....$16,200.00
Federa Share ......$137,700.00
Financial Need:
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The XXX Fire Department works on a small budget with the City of XXX
and four townships paying for fire protection. But by the time we
pay for fuel, maintenance, and training there is very little left to
upgrade. We take steps each year to see funding by having fund-raisers
put on by the department.
One of the biggest problems with funding is that our tax base
remains the same but the expenses continue to climb. Budget cuts also
do not allow for increase in our budget on our truck fund.
The prices of vehicles continue to rise faster then we are ability
to gain funds, and as time goes on, our other vehicles continue to age.
With the use of grant funds, we can spread our dollars out over a
longer period of time which will help us to try and continue to raise
money needed to keep our department dependable and up to date.
We have approached the City of XXX and the townships for
assistance to help purchase a new pumper. Both the city and the
townships realize that support is needed and have pledged to help with
the 5% matching grant if we are successful in receiving the grant.
Cost Benefit:
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By receiving this grant and this equipment we can remove the cause
of the conditions and problems which are negatively affecting our
ability to provide mission critical services.
The main reason that we are looking for a replacement pumper is
safety to our firefighters. With all the large exposures we have to
protect, we need reliable equipment that will allow us to do a
reasonable job in the event of fire or rescue call.
The fire chiefs need to know that if they send firefighters into a
structure that the equipment supports them, is capable of protecting
them without problems. We do not have this assurance with the non
compliant vehicles we currently have.
Our service area extends into 4 townships with an approximate
population of 600. The need to improve and update our pumper is a
tremendous concern, not only for the safety of our firefighters, but
also for the communities and surrounding townships we protect.
The community will benefit in the fact that it will be our main
piece of equipment for fire protection, as we have a large grain
handling and feed processing elevator, one fertilizer plant, one
petroleum and propane plan, repair shop, gas station, bank, church,
telephone service in our business district.
We have structures that house dangerous elements when put under
fire conditions and we need a reliable pumper so that the interior fire
fighters can feel confident in their support vehicle. Also, this pumper
would benefit surrounding communities as we have mutual aid agreements
with them. One of our neighboring communities has a large ethanol
plant.
Also, two neighboring communities have large fertilizer and
chemical plants which border on our coverage area. In the event of fire
conditions in these structures we would be called. We also have many
farmsteads with large buildings in and around our area which we
protect.
Statement of Effect:
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The XXX Fire Department is seeking ODP/FEMA funding to help us
get our department in compliance with OSHA and NFPA properly and with
up-to-date modern equipment so our volunteers are safe in all the
hazards and situations we respond to when assisting our citizens in our
daily operations.
This award will have the most positive affect on our daily
operations and the safety of your firefighters and also fill the gap
that the department currently has.
This award will also have significant impact on our ability to
function safely in hostile IDLH environments as we affect search and
rescue operations on a day to day basis. This equipment will have a
huge impact on our department's ability to protect lives and property
in your community.
Our department is very dedicated to protect lives and property,
serving our people and we are the type of department that the FIRE Act
is supposed to help. Eighty percent of the members are also EMTs or
First Responders.
Each year, we respond on calls that fall into at least five
different categories and with the new compliant equipment it will help
us meet the growing demands on our department. These demands on our
department are increasingly disproportionate to our tax revenues and
the resources we possess in a small department.
We will be tracking the impact of this grant over the next five (5)
years as we measure it's positive impact on our community.
We appreciate your support and would like to express our
appreciation for the opportunities this grant program would provide to
our department.
Thank You for your consideration.
XXX Fire Department