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.

XXX Fire Department in XXX, Iowa, is located 182 miles north of XXX, Iowa, on U.S. Highway XXX a mile
south of the Minnesota/Iowa border and five miles south of MN Highway XXX in XXX County in NorthXXX Iowa.

We are asking your help in the Vehicle Program area to replace an unsafe obsolete 1986 non-NFPA-compliant pumper
for $189,717. We have secured the 5% match for this project.


Project Description and Budget:
--------------------------------------------
After a risk assessment and analysis, the project XXX Fire Department is looking to undertake is the purchase of a
NFPA compliant four-door custom pumper with an automatic transmission diesel engine, a top-mount 1250 gpm pump,
a 1000-gallon tank, cabinetry on both sides for equipment, and foam capabilities.

The truck would be equipped with at least a 300-350 horsepower diesel engine with automatic transmission and would
seat five (5) firefighters. Driver training will be obtained from the State of Iowa at no additional cost. The project is
expected to cost $189,717.

Our inability to provide fire suppression in our day-to-day operations drastically affects the safety of our firefighters and
the ability to be an effective automatic mutual aid partner with other fire departments.

If our grant request of $189,717 is awarded, the Township will contribute a 5% match or $9,485 required to meet
FEMA requirements.

In carrying this grant forward firefighters will be afforded the quality protection recommended to them by code and the
Fire Department can continue to serve the growing needs and risks presented by the community.

The XXX Fire Department has a comprehensive operator training program with training provide by Iowa State
Training. In addition to our training programs, the personnel meet or exceed the national standards for
drivers/operators (NFPA 1002, DOT).


BUDGET BREAK DOWN
-----------------
Total Project Cost: $189,717
Required 5% Match: $ 8,935
Federal share is $ 180,232

NFPA compliant four-door custom pumper would seat five (5) firefighters
Automatic transmission
Diesel engine
A top-mount 1250 gpm pump
1000-gallon water tank
Cabinetry on both sides for equipment
Foam capabilities
300-350 horsepower diesel engine
Automatic transmission .


Financial Need:
--------------------

TOWNSHIP GOV BUDGET
Our total average annual budget is $9,575 and breaks down as follows:
Cemetery: $ 800
Fire: $8775
Total Gov Budget $9,575


FIRE DEPT BUDGET
- Repairs &Maintenance: $2,718
-Fuel: $ 622
-Equipment: $2192
-Insurance: $2365
-Reserve: $ 878
Total Fire Dept Budget $8,775

The reserve is for future vehicle purchases.

Our entire funding is based on the maximum allowable tax levy for fire protection, contracts that we hold for territories
within two local rural townships and the city of XXX, and fees for calls.

None of our vehicles are NFPA compliant and antiquated (average age of fleet is 23+ years). The cost of ongoing
maintenance is becoming impractical.

With rising inputs it is becoming increasingly difficult to contribute to the reserve fund each year.

For instance, the budget for fuel has risen 171% from three years ago, leaving little for equipment and maintenance,
much less a truck.

Fund raising attempts have had very limited success in this small community with an increasing population of retired
residents with limited income.


Project Cost Benefits:
----------------------------
A NFPA compliant custom pumper is consistent with program priorities and is needed to fill the gap in our daily mission
critical services and increased safety for firefighters. This project fits the diverse needs of our department and
coverage territory for the following reasons:

Essential Part of the Fleet
The pumper truck is one of the primary response vehicles in our fleet. We respond to all our calls with this rig.

Benefit - NFPA Compliance:
Our current pumper is not NFPA compliant with the open canopy. It is not financially feasible to refurbish our equipment
because of its advanced age, design and condition.

Benefit - Onboard Water Supply:
Having enough water capacity is extremely crucial for us on the first out truck. Since ninety-five percent (95%) of our
territory is rural and does not have hydrant access, this is much more critical for us than others. We need to be able to
make an immediate impact in order to save lives and properties. The current apparatus was not designed for rural
applications. Tanker shuttles are currently a necessity and rely on more personnel to complete the same task.
Obtaining this truck would increase our water capacity by 25%.

Benefit - Foam Capabilities provides ability to respond to all hazards
Our territory includes two busy stretches, U.S. Highway XXX, and Minnesota State Highway XX, with daily commuters
between the cities of XXX and XXXX, MN. Without any hydrants, our onboard foam capability is critical for
everything from auto accidents to farm-related incidents involving major haz-mat situations.

Benefit - Quicker Response Times
Our current pumper is severely underpowered and lacks the maneuverability needed when fully loaded, thus
measurably slowing our response time.

Benefit - Wildland Urban Interface Zone
A significant portion of our primary response territory is considered by NFPA definition as Wildland Urban Interface
Zone. By having a custom pumper that can more efficiently maneuver the territory it will enable us to do more with less.

Benefit - Safety
By having a four-door custom built truck that is fully compliant, our department members, along with the general public,
will be much safer. During the winter months none of our members will be subjected to extreme winter conditions. Our
current noncompliant canopy-cab designed pumper does not provide the necessary protection for the weather, let
alone an accident or rollover, nor does it possess enough lighting to warn oncoming traffic when we respond to vehicle
accidents on the busy highways in our territory, thus increasing the safety risk of both our responders as well as
commuters.

Benefit - Reduced Maintenance
Since the pumper responds to almost every call, having a newer truck will save us time and money in all aspects of our
operations. We currently have to spend more time and money on repairing our trucks than training. Many of our
members are concerned about the pump breaking down during critical moments, since this has already happened a
few times. A new truck will greatly increase our efficiency to respond to calls in a timely manner and will greatly
diminish the likelihood of breakdowns and repairs.

Benefit - Mutual Aid
This will promote interoperability with neighboring communities and the nine (9) fire departments we work closely with
would benefit from a quicker response time with a new vehicle. We want to be able to assist these departments and
not hinder them in their time of need. As a fire department with mutual aid responsibilities for nine departments,
receiving a new pumper would help everyone in our rural communities.

Benefit - ISO Rating Reduction
An ongoing goal of ours is to reduce our ISO rating in order to better serve our territory and help reduce insurance
costs for our citizens. By acquiring a new pumper and the benefits we will receive as a result of it, we believe we can
accomplish our goal.

Benefit - Increased Call Activity
We have experienced +200% increase in call activity, from 8 calls in 2005 to 9 calls in 2006, and 23 calls this past
year.

This condition and problem negatively affects our ability to provide mission critical services and we are committed to
continue the use of this new pumper and the benefits it brings for many years into the future.


Statement of Effect:
----------------------------
The XXX Fire Department is seeking AFGP funding to help bring our apparatus in compliance with OSHA and NFPA
with an up-to-date modern vehicle so our firefighters are safe in all the hazards and situations we respond to when
assisting our citizens in our daily operations.

The new all-hazardous response engine would give greater pumping capabilities, be NFPA 1901 complaint and able to
transport an adequate crew to the scene of an incident to quickly bring an incident under control and/or contain the
incident.

This award will have the most positive effect on our daily operations and the safety of our firefighters and also fills the
gap that the department currently has.

This award will also have significant impact on our ability to function safely in hostile highway environments 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.

Our department is very dedicated to protect lives and property, serving our people, and we are the type of department
that the FIRE Act is supposed to help.

Each year, we respond to calls that fall into at least five different categories and with the new compliant equipment it
will help us meet the growing demands on our department. These demands on our department are increasingly
disproportionate to our tax revenues and the resources we possess in a small department.

As a rescue department with Jaws Of Life, this truck would get us to scenes faster, decrease set-up time if fire
suppression is needed, accommodate onboard foam, and ultimately lead to a better outcome. Every fire always has
the potential for trapped victims. Time is crucial for them. If we can get there faster with more onboard water and
foam, they have a much better chance of survival.

We will be tracking the impact of this grant over the next five (5) years as we measure its positive impact on our
community and our recruitment.

We appreciate your support and would like to express our appreciation for the opportunities this grant program would
provide to our department.

Thank you for your consideration.
XXX Fire Department