WINNING NARRATIVE 2005
XXX is a small farming community located 100 miles northwest of
Minneapolis / St. Paul. The population of the community is near 800 and
our service area population is near 2,500. We provide fire protection,
rescue, and emergency medical services to these people in a 100 square
mile area.
Project Description / Budget:
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After a risk assessment analysis, the XXX Fire Rescue
Department is in dire need of replacing our current tanker. The tanker
currently on line is a 1985 Chevy C-70 and is very unsafe to operate
and does not comply with NFPA standards. This 20-year-old vehicle with
70,000 miles on it was purchased used and was a farm grain truck prior
to the conversion to a tanker truck.
The front axle is rated at 9,000 pounds and the rear axle is rated
at 19,000 pounds and the tank’s capacity is 2,000 gallons. The gross
weight of the vehicle, when loaded, exceeds the rated axle weights, and
since most of the roads in our service area are gravel, the vehicle is
very unsafe to operate.
Many members of our department refuse to drive this vehicle because
it is so scarey to drive. A number of close calls by many drivers have
occurred with this vehicle because it is overloaded and the suspension
and steering are wearing out. This vehicle presents a tremendous hazard
to the operators, other vehicles on the road, our fire fighters on
scene who are depending on the arrival of additional water, and the
victims and property involved in the fire. The number of rural fires
this past year was lower than our average number of calls which kept
this vehicle off the road.
It would be a disaster to have this vehicle involved in an
accident, especially knowing that it is a hazard every time it is
called out of the fire station. We are also noticing rust flakes coming
from the inside of the tank which can damage the pumper and plug
nozzles while fire fighting.
This vehicle, as it sits now, is a detriment to our department and
its members as well as the departments that we mutual aid with.
The replacement vehicle we are proposing is a new model with
a 300 HP diesel engine and automatic transmission. The front axle will
be rated for 14,000 pounds and the single rear axle will be rated for
26,000 pounds with a tank capacity of nearly 2,000 gallons. The diesel
engine will be more trustworthy than the old gas engine. The automatic
transmission will make operating this vehicle easier and safer. The
heavier axles will handle the weight better, and air brakes will add to
the safety factor. The onboard 500 GPM PTO pump will be more reliable
than the portable pump, and the side-mounted portable tank will be
easier and safer to handle than the top storage unit we have now. This
vehicle will be built compliant with NFPA Standard 1901, Chapters 4, 7,
12, and 19, and OSHA and DOT regulations.
The overall cost of a new tanker will be $150,000.00. The city and
townships have established a truck escrow account for the intent of
replacing vehicles. The city and townships will commit the available
$15,000.00 from this truck escrow account up front so that the amount
being requested in this grant is $135,000.00. The city and townships
have stated their intent to help as much as possible in the funding of
this vehicle.
Project-----Tanker
Total Project Budget-----$150,000
Grant Request-----$135,000
Additional Up Front Match Funds-----$15,000
Our 5% match -----$6,750
FEMA Share-----$128,250
Financial Need:
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The farm economy has not been strong over the past years, and
due to cuts in state aid, the community does not have the funds
available for a project this size without outside help. The city and
the townships have established a truck escrow account for the purpose
of setting aside money to replace vehicles as they wear out but, with
the current economy, the amount being set aside annually does not even
keep up with inflation on these expensive vehicles.
Donations from local businesses and clubs are not likely because
we recently completed the building of a replacement brush rig in
cooperation with DNR. DNR owns this vehicle and in fact can call it
back to them at any given time. This vehicle is a 1981 unit and
replaced a 1957 unit at a cost of over $24,000, which reduced the truck
escrow account and depleted local donation resources. Without this
grant, this tanker will not be replaced within the next ten years.
Below find a summary of the fire department and city budget:
XXX Fire / Rescue Department:
$17,384-----Salaries, Wages, Benefits
$ 5,600-----Heat, Light, Water, Phone
$ 5,100-----Training
$ 2,500-----Minor Fire Fighting Equipment
$ 2,700-----Other Materials, Supplies, Services
$ 8,000-----Equipment Outlay, Capitol Improvements
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$41,284-----Total Fire Department
City of XXX:
$ 80,000----General Government
$ 97,000----Police
$ 41,284----Fire
$ 89,800----Streets
$ 1,200----Sanitation
$ 1,400----Library
$ 6,100----Park/Recreation
$ 5,200----HRA/Econ Dev
$ 42,452----Miscellaneous
$ 5,400----Interest
$ 33,500----Capitol Expenditures
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$403,336----Total City
These figures show that the city is committing 10.2% of it's total
budget to fund fire and rescue protection. We need outside help if we
are to replace this dangerous vehicle.
Cost/Benefit:
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If this project is funded, a very dangerous vehicle will be
taken off the road. This will provide for the safety of our fire
fighters while en route to and from the scene, the civilian drivers on
the road, our fire fighters on the scene waiting for the arrival of
water, and will allow our fire fighters to do their job to preserve
life and property. Replacement of this truck will provide a huge safety
factor to this entire community.
Another large factor is the mutual aid community that we serve in
with XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX, and XXX. These
are also farming communities which expand our service area from 100
square miles to over 900 square miles. With the majority of this area
being farms and farm land and with limited natural water supplies, good
sound tankers are critical pieces of equipment when there is a need for
fire service.
Being able to provide a safe tanker with rust free water will
protect our fire fighters and equipment as well as that of our mutual
aid community. The tanker tends pumpers, grass and brush rigs, manual
labor fire equipment; it also fights running grass fires near roads.
Because these mutual aid communities are small towns, as is XXX,
local water supplies are limited, and very often tankers are needed to
bring in water to support pumpers during city fires.
Not receiving funding for this project will leave a very
dangerous apparatus in service because it is a vital piece of fire
fighting equipment and will continue to be used until it can be
replaced.
Our fire fighters and our pumper will continue to be at risk on a
daily basis. Funds will not be available for many years at our local
level to replace our tanker, and lives will be at risk every time it is
called out for service. Firefighterclosecalls.com lists fire fighter
fatalities of which many are vehicle accident related – we don’t want
to add to that list.
Statement of Effect:
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Receiving this grant will allow us the opportunity to replace a
very dangerous 20-year-old worn-out vehicle with one built properly to
transport water safely and efficiently. Our department operators and
other drivers on the road will be safer.
Our fire fighters on the fire scene will have a more reliable water
supply for self-protection and for fighting fires; hence victims and
property would be better protected. Our pumper will not be exposed to
damage due to rust chips. Also, our mutual aid community will be served
better by a safer, more efficient tanker.
We are truly appreciative of prior grants to supply our fire
fighters with necessary equipment and to replace obsolete gear to
better provide safety and security when in harm’s way. Approval of this
funding request will enhance that safety immensely for our fire
fighters and our public.
Thank you for your considerations.