WINNING NARRATIVE 2008



Project Description
* Please indicate which of these Target Capabilities your request outlined in this application will satisfy. Check all that
apply:
* 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 XXX Fire Department is located in XXX, Minnesota, about XXXX miles northwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Our primary response area consists of residential homes, a small business sector, farming operations, rural
homesteads, as well as wild lands and open areas. We also protect 10 miles of Canadian Pacific Rail line in our
primary area, and almost 40 miles in our mutual aid area. The XXX Fire Department serves an area of more than
109 square miles. According to the 2000 census, the department serves a population of 1,321 people living in 502
households.

The XXX Fire Department completed an equipment risk assessment in which we inventoried every piece of
equipment we own, noting its usability, age & condition, and importance to our mission. We rated our inventory to arrive
at the most important, mission critical equipment we are lacking. In turn, that rating list became our blueprint for the
equipment requested in this application.

After the risk assessment, we determined that both our department and the departments in our nearest mutual aid
group, lack key detection and monitoring equipment that would significantly enhance our ability to perform search and-
rescue operations, deal with hazardous material situations, and save lives and property as we fight fires. We also
lack equipment for performing confined space rescue operations, which we believe is a crucial need in our area.

To remedy this situation, we are requesting federal funding from the AFG program. With these funds, we will purchase
a thermal imager, an infrared thermometer, and a gas monitor/detector. Along with this equipment, we will obtain
specialized training for all 24 firefighters in our department in the safe operation and proper maintenance of this
equipment in standard day-to-day management as well as under emergency response conditions. The training will be
instructor-led and will result in certification.

We will also purchase a full package of rescue equipment specifically designated for confined space rescue operations.
This package will include a tripod system for rope rescues, 10 rescue carabiners, 5 ropes of varied lengths, 5
harnesses, 1 rescue basket, and 6 helmets specifically designed for confined space operations. Along with this
equipment, we will obtain additional training to certify six of our firefighters in confined space rescue operations. This
training will be instructor-led and will result in the certification of all six firefighters. As XXX Fire Department will be
the only department in our mutual aid group with this equipment and training, we will be able to increase our value and
contribution to our mutual aid partners.

One of the biggest risks we have in our area right now is that a lot of the farmers are building added grain bins in
response to the large amount of corn being grown for ethanol in the region. On farm storage of corn has grown
tremendously in recent years. While working in the bin, farmers can very easily become trapped inside as the grain
starts flowing underneath them and sucks them down under like quick sand. A farmer can be up to his shoulders in
seconds. The only way to get to him at that point is through a small opening at the top of the bin. In such instances,
confined space rescue equipment and a trained firefighter qualified to use it could be their only hope of rescue.
As this is also an increased risk for our firefighters who must go in and rescue them, we as a department, are obligated
to have proper equipment and specialized training to make sure the operation is performed safely and efficiently.

The following table is a breakout of the total project budget:

Thermal Imager = $11,500
Infrared Thermometer = $450
Gas Detector = $1,875
Detection / Monitoring Equipment Training = $500
Confined Space Rescue Equipment Package=$4,625
Confined Space Rescue Training=$1,500
Grant writing fees = $500
Total Project Cost = $20,950

Below is a breakdown of the Federal and Applicant cost sharing:
Required 5% Applicant=$1,047
Federal Share=$19,903
Total Project Cost = $20,950


FINANCIAL NEED

Our principal city is XXX, MN, which is not currently in a strong financial position. The City of XXX and
surrounding areas are very low income cities. The 2000 Census found that the Median Household Income for XXX
is $29,464. This compares to Minnesota’s state median household income of $47,111; our local MHI is less than 63%
of the state average.

The City of XXX’s budget for 2008 is presented below:
General Fund=$148,633
Streets=$51,285
Police=$27,570
Fire Dept.=$23,000
Ambulance =$37,600
Park and Rec=$34,675
Shop=$14,000
TOTAL=$336,763

The fire department’s 2008 budget is presented below:
Utilities=$3,000
Equipment and Repairs=$6,300
Insurance=$3,500
Miscellaneous=$3,000
Training=$3,200
Fuel=$2,000
Fire Protection=$2,000
Total=$23,000

As this shows, neither the City of XXX nor the fire department are financially strong. Total expenditures for the fire
department amount to about $23,000 in a typical year. But rising costs, especially for fuel, mean little is left at the end
of the year. As can be seen from the financial information presented above, purchase of a Thermal Imager alone would
consume nearly half of our annual operating budget. We cannot afford this project without help from AFG program.


COST / BENEFIT

XXX will be the first department in our county to possess any of the equipment in this application. If this grant is
awarded, the equipment will not only benefit XXX, but also the other departments in our county and the additional
six with whom we have mutual aid agreements. These departments and their 400 combined volunteer Firefighters,
protect a large multiple of our 109 total square miles. XXX is also involved in a Minnesota state-wide mutual aid
network. Any equipment owned by XXX is itemized and placed on a state-wide list of equipment available to other
departments.

Safety for the local civilian population is a strong outcome for us if this grant is approved. More than 25% of the
residents in our primary response area are children, and 23% are seniors 65 years of age and older. These groups are
especially at great risk when fires occur. The speed of our response is critical to protecting these vulnerable groups.

A thermal imager would go a long way toward fulfilling our mission. The ability to scan rooms quickly will dramatically
impact search-and-rescue operations. For example, XXX protects a nursing home with many residents who are
invalids or have Alzheimers, and protects a nearby school in our mutual aid group. In an emergency situation, a thermal
imager will assist in searching these buildings quickly and efficiently, allowing us to find unconscious victims and save
lives. Losing one civilian life because we could not find them in time is inexcusable when the technology exists that
allows us to do our job more effectively.

The thermal imager will significantly increase the safety of our Firefighters in structural fires as well by allowing us to
see in zero visibility environments, thus reducing our time in these structures and lessening their chances of injury or
death. In addition, a thermal imager will be a valuable tool in confined space rescues involving grain bins (mentioned
above). If a farmer or firefighter becomes trapped beneath the grain in the bin, the thermal imager can see through the
mound of grain and detect the person when the human eye cannot.

Similarly, the gas detector will also ensure the safety of our firefighters engaged in confined space rescue operations.
XXX has many confined spaces in public facilities in addition to agricultural structures. One example would include
sewers. Many cities in our region are rebuilding their sewer infrastructure. A worker or even a child getting trapped in
one of these spaces is very real possibility. In a rescue situation, getting into these spaces while wearing SCBA gear
may be difficult. A gas monitor will help Firefighters rapidly determine whether they can enter confined space
environments without SCBA gear and will help them rescue victims faster.

The gas detector will also bring XXX into compliance with Minnesota Statute 182.653 Subd. 2 and voluntary compliance
with OSHA 1910.146F and NFPA 326 standards covering confined space rescue operations. This gas monitor will
allow Firefighters to quickly size-up confined space rescue situations and determine whether or not it is safe to enter
those spaces without wearing SCBA gear.

There are also property damage issues to be considered. There are increasing numbers of new homes within the area.
Our area is a bedroom community to the neighboring regional center of XXXX, MN and many families prefer to live
here while commuting to XXXX. This means that there has been some housing growth.

In addition, this area is becoming a prime retirement community, due to the numerous recreational lakes, wooded
areas, and rural settings. Six-figure valued homes are increasingly dotting the countryside that falls within our first
response area. That translates into more structures in our primary response area and a greater capacity for structural
fires. With a thermal imager, we will be able to pinpoint fire under insulation and drywall, without having to randomly
tear out this material. With new home prices being what they are, we feel that saving even one home from extensive
damage will more than pay for the cost of a thermal imager.


STATEMENT OF EFFECT

Equipment in this request will impact the XXX Fire Department and our community in the following ways.
The thermal imager will be an invaluable tool that will increase firefighter safety while having a significant impact on
incident size-up and rescue operations throughout the community. It would make search and rescue operations much
more efficient with the ability to locate a victim much faster, which will increase the odds of a rescue rather than a
recovery.

The addition of a thermal imager would allow us to manage a fire scene more effectively. It would assist us in locating
possible victims in smoke filled buildings and pinpoint hot spots that might rekindle. Also, because it detects heat, rather
than light, it will help us to locate lost victims in our remote, rural areas. In addition, the thermal imager can locate the
fire source becoming a vital tool to help us detect the heat source through thick smoke, doors and walls, allowing
firefighters to bring the fire under control.

The grain elevators we protect provide special dangers from explosive grain dust which, when mixed with a variety of
other potential airborne particulate matter, can obscure visibility. A thermal imager would allow us to quickly and safely
handle such situations, rather than having firefighters groping along in the darkness to find the source of the problem.

A gas detector will go a long way in allowing us to identify dangerous levels of gasses. Carbon monoxide and
hazardous gases can be quickly detected and safely responded to if we had a gas detector. The model we would like
to purchase detects most volatile organic compounds (VOC). It will allow us to search for carbon monoxide in homes.

Our northern climate means that home heating systems run almost continually during 5 months of the year. Older
homes like those in our first response area typically have older furnaces, where carbon monoxide can build up. We are
asked to respond to many reports of odor from natural gas, as well.

In addition, equipment in this request will enable us to size-up HazMat situations with increased accuracy and manage
them more effectively. As we noted, we protect 40 miles of Canadian Pacific (CP) rail system. There are about 75
trains a day that travel through the area on these lines. A simple derailment could be catastrophic, because these
railroads often carry toxic substances in large quantities including molten sulfur, highly toxic anhydrous ammonia, acids,
and the like. Many containerized rail cars travel through our primary response area as well, most loaded at foreign
ports of call.

In incidents involving hazardous materials, our Firefighters will be able to use a thermal imager to identify sources and
movement of contaminants and determine liquid levels in containers. With a gas detector, we can detect noxious levels
of gasses that could potentially threaten our firefighters or the civilian population. By being able to identify levels earlier,
we save lives.

The equipment discussed here will allow the XXX to meet a number of state and federal statutory requirements. For
example, employers in Minnesota are required to provide a safe working environment per MN statute 182.653 Subd. 2.
Without the equipment described, a XXX firefighter isn’t as safe in doing his/her job. Thus, funding from this
proposal will allow XXX to meet MN Statute 182.653.

Training will meet OSHA statue 1910.156 (c)( 1) which requires our department to provide training and education for all
fire brigade members commensurate with those duties and functions that fire brigade members are expected to
perform. This training and education shall be provided to fire brigade members before they perform fire brigade
emergency activities.

We have a good working relationship with representatives of the Minnesota State Community and Technical Colleges.
These people have strong training backgrounds in equipment and techniques necessary to proper use of firefighter
equipment. We will use their expertise to ensure our firefighters are well trained in proper use of all equipment
purchased. In addition, manufacturer’s representatives will provide more basic training.

If this grant proposal is approved, the benefits to the community will include a better outfitted and safer Fire
Department. The public will be better protected from the catastrophic effects of fires, and lives and property will be
saved. The primary benefit to the XXX Fire Department is that our personnel will be better protected in a very
dangerous job. We will feel safer going into a fire knowing our equipment will not fail us, that it is safe, and that it is
appropriate to the job we face. That will improve the quality of the work we do. The potential fall-out by fire, hazardous
materials, or confined space emergencies here in the XXX area will be greatly reduced.

Thanks for your consideration of this request.
The XXX Firefighters