| * Please indicate which of these Target Capabilities your request outlined in this application will satisfy. Check all that apply: | |
| Responder Safety and Health Firefighting Operations/Support Hazardous Materials Response Search and Rescue Emergency Medical Services |
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| * Please provide your narrative statement in the space provided below. Include in your narrative, details regarding (1) your project’s description and budget, (2) your organization’s financial need, (3) the benefit to be derived from the cost of your project, and (4) how the activities requested in your application will help your organization’s daily operations and how this grant will protect life and property. | |
| The 24 member XXXX Volunteer Fire Department is
located in XXX
County in central Minnesota, approximately XXX miles north of
Minneapolis/St.Paul.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BUDGET: We have more than the required $2280.00, 5% match. We have an additional $2280.00 pledged to our department for new turnout gear from a community organization. After a comprehensive risk assessment of our department needs, a serious problem became readily apparent. Therefore, the XXXX Fire Department is requesting funding from the Operations and Firefighter Safety program in the amount of $45600.00. Turnout gear is the most critical component of a fire fighters protective ensemble. Currently, our department is outfitted with old, worn out, and non-compliant turnout gear. The personal protective equipment used to protect each member of the department from injury has become inadequate through our high call volume and aging. Our turn out is non-compliant and no longer meet current NFPA 1971 and OSHA requirements. Most coats and pants have burn holes and are heavily stained and contaminated, making them unsafe to wear on a call. We also lack the correct sizes for many of the volunteers, which makes it difficult to maneuver. These conditions have a negative affect on our ability to provide mission critical services to the public. It is our goal to outfit 100% of the active firefighters on the department, in NFPA 1971 and MN 182.163 compliant PPE. This will result in maximum firefighter safety during an emergency and will protect us well into the future. With funding through DHS, the items to be purchased are as follows: Turnout coats, bunker pants, boots, helmets, hoods and gloves. The above mentioned safety equipment will greatly increase the basic response needs of our volunteer department. This application is consistent with grant priorities and national standards. BUDGET BREAKDOWN: Per Unit Turn out coat and pants…………………………………………….$1500 Boots………………………………………………………………............$170 Helmet, Gloves, Protective Hood…… .......$230 TOTAL PROJECT COST……………………………………$$45600.00 Extra Additional Match…………………………………………………$2280.00 Requesting Funds………………………………………………………… $43320.00 Required 5% Match……………………………………………………… $2280.00 Federal Share……………………………………………………………. $41040.00 FINANCIAL NEED: The XXXX Fire Department is located in rural Minnesota, with a small percentage of industries (5%) and a large percentage (30%) of people over the age of 62, our local tax base and community can not support a project of this size. The small annual budget we receive from the City of XXXX is used to pay for fuel, repairs, utilities, training, insurance and debt service on our pumper, rescue vehicle and fire station. It does not include money for large equipment expenditures, or a reserve fund. Our Steps taken to seek alternative funding were unsuccessful. Our local city government recently completed a four million dollar sewer project and had to raise sewer and water rates by 40% to fund it. This will result in a lean budget and fewer funds for the fire department. Unfortunately, every year our local services such as police and fire protection are challenged with providing more services and support with less assistance from our state and local government. With these financial obstacles, it is even more critical to provide, maintain and expand fire protection through this grant. Our department does have 2 fundraisers each year, but due to our rural location and elderly population, these events raise small amounts of money. The Average median household income in our area is $37,000, $10,000 below the state average. 10% of our population is living below the poverty level, making it very difficult to raise tax levies. Below is information on the fire dept. budget from the City of XXXX, averaged out over the past three years: AVERAGE INCOME PER YEAR: $94,000... Fire Contract with townships & insurance $2000…. Fundraising $3000……Donations $99,000 Total $10,000 over budget AVERAGE EXPENSES PER YEAR: $25,000 Repairs, operating supplies, maintenance. $18,000…Utilities, insurance, professional services $6000…..Fire communications and repairs $29,000... Debt Service on pumper, rescue vehicle $26,000….Wages, work comp $5000…..Training, Fire Prevention $109,000……….Total . City Of XXXX Budget AVERAGE EXPENSES PER YEAR: $91,000…..General Budget $180,000…Police Service $109,000…..Fire Protection $381,000…Public Works, water $300,000….sewer fund $57,000…..Misc., Airport, FICA, Prof. services, health $1,118,000…….Total COST/BENEFIT: Because we have additional match dollars, this application is a great cost benefit. Our Primary service area covers 408 square miles, with 5333 permanent residents. The City of XXXX and the surrounding townships are a large tourist area, as a result, our population of people under the age of 14 and older than 65, increases dramatically during the summer months. There are over 50 resorts, a K-12 school (525 students), elderly apartment complex, Indian Reservation, State Park and numerous campgrounds to protect in our primary service area, along with a portion of the second largest lake (XXX) in Minnesota. With XXX only 17 miles away, and over 3000 visitors per day, having safe and compliant (PPE) will maximize our ability to protect this critical infrastructure. The benefits of having new, OSHA and NFPA 1971 compliant personal protective equipment in our department are numerous. Firefighters require the best personal protective equipment available, because of the environment in which they perform their duties. Compliant turn out gear will greatly improve the health and safety of the public and firefighters in a fire or fire related hazard. It would also promote interoperability with neighboring communities. They know we are properly equipped to complete the task at hand. This turnout gear will also fill a resource gap that exists. The need to improve and update our equipment is a tremendous concern, and without support from organizations like FEMA, we feel small rural departments are constantly losing ground on having safe equipment. If we do not receive this grant, our firefighters and community are still at risk and we will continue to have a gap in our mission critical services. STATEMENT OF EFFECT: This grant is needed to enhance the day to day operations of the XXXX Fire Department. The department will be able to respond to all hazards with compliant and very effective equipment. This new equipment will directly protect the firefighters and public on every call we respond to. Our philosophy at the XXXX Fire Department is that the firefighter is the most precious resource the fire service possesses, and protecting that resource is a top priority. We are committed to continuing this project and/or benefits of the project beyond the grant year. The XXXX Fire Department is a highly respected and dedicated group of volunteers in the community. The department takes great pride in protecting lives and property. When we show the community that we are striving to improve, it makes future support from the community, easier to receive. Thank you for considering our grant application, we hope to hear from you soon. |
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