| * 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 |
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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. | |
| PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Problem: The XXXX Fire Department undertook a risk assessment analysis of its vehicle fleet and determined its most pressing problem was a need to replace both of its pumpers with a new pumper vehicle. The existing pumpers are both very old, unreliable, jeopardizing both the safety to our firefighters and impeding the quality of service to our public residents and business persons. Pumper Need: The XXXX department owns two pumpers, a 1975 Ford 750 and a 1948 International. Both were purchased new by the department, both are enclosed cab designs, and both have lap belts for just two persons. The 1948 pumper is used rarely. This vehicle is difficult to start and drive. The rear wheels have a tendency to lock up, the steering is loose, making it an unsafe vehicle to operate. Its pumper capacity and water carrying capacities are so small that it is of little help on a scene, even if it gets there. Once on a fire fight scene, the pump is difficult to prime in order to dispense water. The 1975 pumper, our main attack vehicle, has its own problems. The tank is rusting out, causing problems with operating valves and causing nozzle problems during use. The pump has begun to knock while in use. The generator is a very noisy piece of equipment. When in full operation at a fire or rescue scene, the noise from the generator and knocking pump are at such a level that it impairs communications between the operators at the truck and ground personnel. In addition, the generator is more than 30 years old, with inadequate power and gas storage capacity to run the type of equipment typically needed by a modern fire department. Since most of our calls are to rural scenes, we need to rely on providing our own power for lighting, and since the output from our generator is so small, it can really only power two small on-scene lights. Even so, during a fire fight, we typically have to refill the gas tank and restart up the generator to run these two small lights. This takes time away from our mission requirements. Also, since we are a rural fire department, our need for bringing our own water to a scene is essential. The tank capacity for this vehicle is too small. The carrying capacity limitations of this truck include the lack of gear too. We can only carry two SCBA’s on this truck and very little of our other gear typically wanted at a fire fight scene. The electrical functions on this truck are very outdated for this day and age. For example, we can’t mount rechargeable flashlights or radios on this truck. The electrical charge system can’t keep up with the extra demands of those devices. The steps to the hose bed are steep and narrow, causing a hazardous situation for our personnel. Other shortcomings include a transmission that is beginning to show signs of failure. The truck’s physical configuration includes a high rear-end, which becomes a problem during our runs. The light bar is small and hard to see from behind. We often have cars passing us during a run because they don’t notice the emergency lights. Finally, the ladders on the vehicle are old, would fail any compliance checks, and need to be replaced. Making all the repairs needed, and replacing equipment on this truck would far exceed the value. We need to replace this vehicle as well. Purchase New Pumper: The XXXX Fire Department proposes to address its pumper need by purchasing a new pumper vehicle. We are looking at a truck package that includes a 2008 Freightliner M2-106 chassis, 300 hp caterpillar motor, and an Allison automatic transmission. Its fire fighting capabilities would include a FS 1600 gallon fiber steel tank with a lifetime warranty, a command platform that would allow 360 degree visibility, a 1250 GPM mid-ship mounted pump with a Darley “fast foam” class A proportioner installed. Large hose beds and pre-connects would also be a feature of the updated truck. A 6000 watt generator fueled by the trucks fuel cell would take care of our on-site power needs. Larger storage compartments would be an added benefit to our department. Extra SCBA’s would be able to be carried in this pumper, as well as assorted loose tools and equipment. Of course, we’d have it outfitted with new hose, nozzles, and new ladders. Lighting features would be NFPA compliant and, of course, all required safety features of a fire service truck would be met. Training: We will not be requesting any training funds with this application. We have set up a Comprehensive Driver’s Training course with the XXX College System. This training is instructor-led, hands on and leads to state certification. The training will bring 100% of our firefighters into compliance with NFPA-1002, NFPA 1404 and NFPA-1851. Proposed Budget: New Pumper Vehicle - $193,000 Additional Match - $15,000 Adjusted Vehicle - $178,000 Grant preparation - $ 500 Total Project Cost - $178,500 5% Matching Funds - $8,925 AFG Share - $169,575.00 Our department would put an additional $15,000 into the purchase of this vehicle if this grant application is approved. These are funds we have in our vehicle replacement fund. If granted these funds, the XXXX Fire Department would purchase the new Pumper vehicle according to the grant specifications. This pumper would be put into operation and used immediately upon delivery replacing both of its other pumpers currently used by our department. This would also bring our department to a higher level of safety for our firefighters, provide increased protection and reliability to our protection area’s residents, and bring us into compliance with all NFPA standards related to fire department vehicles. FINANCIAL NEED Fire Department Funding: City of XXXX Budget $ 78,547 General Government $ 8,625 Police Contract $ 22,000 Fire Department $ 22,575 Utilities $ 50,000 Roads $181,747 Total City Budget XXXX Fire Department Expenses (2006) $ 1,308 Utilities $ 1,163 Fuel $ 969 Radio/pager maintenance & repairs $ 608 Shop supplies $ 3,033 Insurance $ 8,208 Personnel costs (including wages, training, physicals, etc.) $ 3,272 Truck repairs/maintenance $ 1,100 Truck replacement fund $19,661 Total expenses $22,000 Budget $ 2,339 Budget Surplus Limited Local Budget. Our annual fire department budget is usually around $22,000. This has been adequate to meet our usual yearly needs, although it is difficult to undertake some of the big ticket purchases needed by the department to meet industry standards. In the case of this vehicle purchase, even if we spent every dollar of our annual budgets toward the vehicle we wish to purchase with the FEMA grant, it would take us more than 9 years to pay for it. Thus, outside grant assistance is essential. When looking at our budget list above, we had a budget surplus of about $2,300 last year, and we didn’t run into any real emergency expenses. As you can see we do have a vehicle replacement fund that we have started several years ago. At this time we have $15,000 in that fund that we will contribute to this vehicle purchase. While we are mandated to contribute 5%, we have the financial capability of contributing more than 12% of the total cost. We feel it would be a huge advantage to us if we could replace our outdated and obsolete pumpers with the money from this grant. Due to current budgetary constraints, the purchase of a pump vehicle would probably be put off until it becomes critical. Our City is in a budgetary crunch and we have been told not to expect additional funding for our department. The Cities in Minnesota have had their Local Government Aid slashed in recent years, requiring the additional funding burdens placed on local property taxes. Unfortunately, like most other rural area fire departments, the XXXX community is experiencing a declining population, with the largest percentage of the population being in the 60+ year old category, and the younger population migrating to larger communities. This means that property tax base is in a decline and the City is prohibited from increasing rates at thresholds that would ensure adequate funding for things like our fire department’s equipment needs. The XXXX Fire Department is well aware of budgetary constraints of smaller communities. The department is trying to assist the City of XXXX in defraying whatever costs it can. Recently we have held fundraisers through our department that have raised money toward replacing worn equipment of the department. These events are all reliant on the generosity of local residents. We continually lose a little financial ground each year as we try to replace equipment and the cost of new equipment goes up faster than our budget. As you can see we have no ability to put money away each year for replacement of the needed equipment or other large purchases. COST BENEFIT Safety: By receiving this grant to purchase this pumper vehicle, we can remove the cause of many of the problematical conditions encountered both out on the road while responding to emergency calls and on-site while engaged in fire fights or rescue scenes. As mentioned, safety concerns exist when operating the 1948 pumper. It is an unsafe vehicle to have out on the road at all. Poor visibility of emergency light exist with our newest pumper, so we do put both our fire department personnel and other motorists at risk every time out. On the incident scene, the poor condition of the truck’s equipment impedes our abilities to handle the scene as efficiently as would be possible with upgraded equipment. Interoperability: Our problems with poor quality vehicle equipment impairs our performance with Mutual Aid partners. This grant would help us address those problems. Our outdated vehicle performance creates an unprofessional and unsafe atmosphere while working on an incident scene with other departments. Our mutual aid partners will often choose to call upon other mutual aid partners who are better equipped, even if they are farther away. This adds response times to our partners calls for aid, and decreases chances of limiting property damage. By funding this grant application, our department’s professionalism and safety will be enhanced, making us a better mutual aid partner. OPERATIONAL OUTCOMES The XXXX Fire Department is seeking ODP/FEMA funding to help us get our department in compliance with NFPA standards for fire department vehicles and equipment, to enable us to secure up-to-date modern equipment to operate more safely in all the hazards and situations we respond to when assisting our citizens in our daily operations. Personal Safety in Daily Operations: This award will have the most positive affect on the daily operations and the safety of our firefighters and fill the gap that the department currently has. Our vehicles are old, poorly equipped, and our newest pumper is becoming unreliable to address our mission, with safety issues arising each time we are called upon to perform at an incident scene. This award will have significant impact on our ability to function safely while at an incident scene, and 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 our community. Protection of Lives and Property: Our department is very dedicated to protecting lives and property, serving our people and we are the type of department that the FIRE Act helps each year. Each year, we respond to calls that fall into at least five different categories. Because of our vehicle shortcomings we are unable to provide the kind of support necessary at fire situations, both with pump capacities and water carrying capacities. Modern demands on our department are increasingly disproportionate to our tax revenues and the resources we possess in a small community and fire department. With the funding of this application, the new compliant vehicle will help us meet the growing demands on our department. Measurable Results: 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 will be able to do this through observing reduced response times, providing better quality fire fighting capabilities on-site, while comparing it to what we are able to do at this point in time. If we cannot make these purchases, the safety of our firefighters will continue to be at risk due to aging vehicles and poor quality equipment. Without making these purchases, we will continue to experience gaps in our performance levels. We appreciate your support and would like to express our appreciation for the opportunities this grant program provides to departments like ours. Thank you for your consideration. XXXX Fire Department |
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