SAFER NARRATIVE FORMAT TIP

Remember compliance with NFPA 1710 and 1720 are key to your success!

• NFPA has made all of their standards available on-line (with or without NFPA membership). You can view the standard(s) but you cannot print, download, or "cut & paste" the language.  Here is how it works: Go to:http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/list_of_codes_and_standards.asp
  Select the document you want to review.  Scroll down to the heading "Additional information about this document" and click on the link "Preview this document".
  Click on "I agree".

• A statement that describes why the applicant needs the grant funds, i.e., how the newly hired firefighters will be used within the department and a description of the specific benefit these firefighters will provide for the fire department and community.
• A statement regarding how the community and current firefighters are at risk without the needed firefighters, and to what extent that risk will be reduced if the applicant is awarded.
• An explanation of the applicant’s inability to address the need without Federal assistance.
• A statement relating to how the applicant will ensure, to the extent possible, that they will seek, recruit, and hire members of racial and ethnic minority groups and women to increase their ranks within their department.
• A statement regarding how the applicant plans to meet the match requirements for the five-year performance period should they receive the grant award. This statement should include any long-term plans to retain the new firefighter positions.
• A statement regarding how the applicant plans to meet the requirement to ensure that firefighter positions filled under the SAFER grants are not discriminated against for, or prohibited from, engaging in volunteer activities in another jurisdiction during off-duty hours.

Example - questions MUST BE addressed in the following order!!

• How will the additional firefighters improve emergency operations and response time?
• How will they affect fire and loss of life?

1. Has the lack of sufficient staffing hampered safe interior firefighting operations? If so, how?
2. Has the lack of sufficient personnel caused injuries? If so, what kind of injuries and how many?
3. Has the lack of sufficient staffing affected the physical burden on responding firefighters? Describe. 

• Briefly describe your expenditures in an average year. How are you spending your organizations income?
• How much revenue does your organization receive in a typical year?
• What are the prospects for the future?  Are revenues likely to increase or decrease? Explain why and by how much.

• How does your organization conduct, or plan to conduct, out reach and recruitment?
• Does your department have an EEO (equal employment opportunity plan) plan? Briefly describe the elements of the plan.
• How successful has your organization been in recruiting minorities and women?

• Describe the source of revenue that will be available to support the increase matching funds requirement for the 5 years of the award.
• Describe the local government’s commitment to support the matching funds for the new positions.
• Describe your local economy and how it will affect your community’s ability to meet the match requirements.

•   Discuss your department’s policies against such discrimination or describe how a department wide policy against discrimination would be implemented.

SAFER Narrative Format Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Activity

The Narrative Statement (project description) for the
Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Activity must include the following:

1. A statement that describes why the applicant needs the grant funds, i.e., how the recruitment of new volunteer firefighters and retention of current volunteer firefighters will be used within the department or organization and a description of the specific benefit these firefighters will provide for the fire department(s) or community. This statement should include specifics about the recruitment and/or retention plan and what specific benefit the efforts would provide the surrounding community or communities.

2. A statement regarding how the community and current firefighters (or geographic area of concern for an eligible organization) are at risk without the needed firefighters, and to what extent that risk will be reduced if the applicant is awarded.

3. An explanation of the applicant’s inability to address the need without Federal assistance.

4. A statement relating to how the applicant will ensure, to the extent possible, that they will seek, recruit, and retain members of racial and ethnic minority groups and women to increase the ranks within their fire department.

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