| * 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 XXX Volunteer Fire Department is located in a
farming community
in the City of XXX. XXX is a town in Minnesota about XXX miles
south of Minneapolis/St. Paul. We provide fire protection, rescue, and
first responder services to the people and property in our 54 square
mile service area. Project description: ---------------------- What you are requesting funding for, including budget descriptions of the major budget items, i.e., personnel, equipment, contracts, etc.? After a risk assessment of our rural volunteer fire department a serious safety problem became very apparent. The XXX Volunteer Fire Department Personal Protective Equipment is old, unsafe and does not comply with MN-OSHA or NFPA standards. Recently our department purchased boots, hoods, gloves and helmets so we won’t be including those items in the request. The personal protective equipment we use has become inadequate due to its aging and use. A majority of our bunker gear is over 15 years old, is worn, the seams are separating, and they no longer provide proper protection for fire fighting and traffic incidents. We also have the problem that many of our firefighters do not have the correct size coat and pants, which is also a safety issue in itself. XXX is located along a major freeway, Interstate XXX, and our department responds to many traffic accidents at night and our old bunker gear does not comply with the safety standards for reflective markings for a 70 mph interstate highway. Our goal is to have 100% of our department safe and compliant with the MN-OSHA and NFPA standards. We are requesting funds for bunker gear, coats and pants, so 100% of the department is MN-OSHA/NFPA compliant. With the additional funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program our department will have enough personal protective equipment to be 100% MN-OSHA/NFPA complaint and safe. Total Cost 25 sets @ 1500.00 each------$37,500 XXX City 5 % Matching Funds ----------$1,875 Federal Share -------------------------$35,625 Financial need: ------------------- Why can’t this project be funded solely through local funding resources? We live in a rural farming community and the farming economy has not been strong the past few years, and due to cuts in state aid, the community does not have the funds available for a project of this size. 2007 FIRE FUND EXPENDITURES WAGES AFTER DED---------------$455.00 PAYROLL TAXES-----------------$145.00 INSURANCE-------------------$5,200.00 OUTSIDE SERVICES------------$2,000.00 DUES & FEES-------------------$400.00 REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE-------$4,000.00 GAS & OIL-------------------$1,550.00 SUPPLIES--------------------$1,550.00 TELEPHONE---------------------$250.00 TRAINING--------------------$8,500.00 CONVENTIONS & TRAVEL--------$2,150.00 MINOR EQUIPMENT---------------------- ----6 AIR TANKS-------------$2,370.00 ----300 FT 1 ¾” Hose----------$630.00 ----300 FT 2 ½” Hose----------$930.00 ----50 Gal Foam---------------$820.00 ----5 Pagers----------------$2,475.00 ----Ape Tool-Piercing noz-----$425.00 ----Cascade System----------$6,000.00 FREIGHT-----------------------$475.00 POSTAGE------------------------$50.00 OFFICE SUPPLIES---------------$250.00 MISCELLANEOUS---------------$1,860.00 --TOTAL EXPENDITURES-------$42,485.00 2007 CITY EXPENDITURES General Fund--------------$126,010.00 Public Safety--------------$70,200.00 Streets--------------------$87,810.00 Parks----------------------$40,080.00 Dept Service---------------$45,455.00 Cemetery--------------------$5,445.00 Morin Lake Project-------------$55.00 Fire Department------------$42,485.00 Total City Expenditures--$ 417,540.00 As you can see, we are currently spending 11% of the city budget for day to day operations so there is no money available to fund $35,000 for personal protective equipment. The median income for a household in XXXX County is $36,964 which doesn’t provide much of a tax base to support a project of this size. Cost/Benefit: ------------------ What will be the benefits your department or your community will realize if the project described is funded? What would be the consequences if the project is not funded? Our primary response area of 54 square miles is predominately an agricultural community with many farms and agribusinesses. We also provide mutual aid to 17 neighboring communities. Our traffic accident calls have doubled in the past 3 years and having old PPE with noncompliant reflective markings is a major safety issue. If our grant request is approved, it will provide the needed safety for our firefighters while responding to our calls in our service area as well as each time we respond to assist our 17 mutual aid departments. The town of XXX is a community that has a major interstate highway, K-12 School, gas pipeline, and a rail system running through it, there is always the potential for an emergency when you have that type of critical infrastructure. With a all volunteer department it is important that all 25 firefighters be fully outfitted with MN-OSHA and NFPA compliant personal protective equipment because any of the 25 fire fighters can respond to fire and first responder calls at any time. The consequence if funding is not approved is that all of our members would continue to respond to calls with noncompliant bunker gear, putting those members at risk on every run we make. Our main goal for this request is to keep our firefighters safe, to serve our community and the surrounding area to the best of our ability. Statement of effect: ----------------------- How would this award affect the daily operations of your department and how would this award affect your department’s ability to protect lives and property in your community? Our department is dedicated to protecting lives and property within our community. This funding will help provide the necessary Personal Protective Equipment to protect our firefighters from potential hazards encountered each time we respond to emergency situations and when assisting our citizens in our daily operations. Our department protects many farms, agricultural chemical businesses, K-12 School, propane facilities, major interstate highway, railroad, and a natural gas pipeline. With that type of critical infrastructure having proper protective equipment is critical for firefighter safety. Each year our department responds to many different types of calls. 60% of our department are first responders and having safe compliant personal protective equipment will ensure firefighter safety in any situation. Thanks for your support and we appreciate the protection this grant will provide to our department. Thanks for your consideration, XXX Volunteer Fire Department |
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