FEMA awards grants for equipment to North Olympic Peninsula fire departments
By Brian Gawley, Peninsula Daily News
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The grants were awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The program is not the same as another federal grant program that provides training for firefighters in exchange for having them look for suspicious activity while firefighting, Port Angeles Fire Chief Dan McKeen said.
"There are no strings attached," he said.
"This is purely an equipment grant and we don't have to have any specialized training in it, or we don't have to make any specialized commitments."
Grant amounts
The Port Angeles Fire Department has received a $213,000 federal grant to buy more than 100 sets of the protective turnout gear, which is worn while entering burning buildings.
Clallam County Fire District No. 3 in Sequim also received $88,000 for rapid intervention team equipment and training for rescuing people trapped in burning buildings.
In Jefferson County, Fire District No. 2 in Quilcene received a $94,000 grant for 20 sets of turnout gear, 10 sets of EMS gear and a backup generator.
Jefferson County Fire District No. 3 in Port Ludlow received $12,350 to upgrade the firefighters' protective masks with speakers and in-mask digital displays to monitor oxygen tank levels.
More than $490 million from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program were awarded to fire departments and fire districts nationwide during fiscal year 2007, which ended Oct. 1, 2007.
In Washington state, 54 grants were awarded during that time, totaling $5 million.
Two departments
McKeen said the 100 sets of gear will allow the department to almost completely outfit not only its 24 career firefighters, but also its volunteer firefighters and those of Clallam County Fire District No. 2, as well.
"Now that we have consolidated our volunteer programs, I wrote the grant to benefit both agencies," he said.
The numbers fluctuate, but the Port Angeles Fire Department has as many as 24 volunteer firefighters, while Clallam County Fire District No. 2 has as many as 60.
In December 2006, the city and fire district agreed to consolidate their volunteer firefighting programs.
Last month, they agreed to form a committee to study consolidating the fire department and fire district.
The fire district covers 85 square miles and surrounds the city on the east, west and south.
Rescuing trapped people
Clallam County Fire District No. 3 Chief Steve Vogel said the district's grant includes $60,220 for equipment and $27,600 for training in rapid intervention team tactics and strategy.
Rapid intervention teams are used at building fires to rescue trapped people, including other firefighters, and "soften up" the building.
More firefighters die in home fires than in any other type of structure fire, and homes are the most common type of building that firefighters encounter, according to the Web site rapidintervention.com.
Vogel said the training teaches firefighters how to locate and rescue people trapped in burning buildings, including describing their location and removing barriers.
The equipment includes thermal imagers to see the heat of a body through the fire's smoke and special breathing packs, he said.
Clallam County Fire District No. 3 covers 135 square miles including the city of Sequim.
Jefferson County
Jefferson County Fire District No. 2 in Quilcene will use its $94,000 grant for 20 sets of turnout gear; 10 sets of EMS gear, which is lightweight and protects against blood-borne diseases, and a 70-kilowatt generator to operate the station during a power outage, said Fire Chief Bob Wilson.
The district has 38 volunteer firefighters plus a fire chief and paramedic, and covers 70 square miles in east Jefferson County including Quilcene.
Jefferson County Fire District No. 3 in Port Ludlow will use its $12,350 grant for upgrading the protective masks that firefighters wear, said Fire Chief Ed Wilkerson.
One upgrade will consist of putting speakers in the masks so that firefighters can better communicate while inside a building, he said.
Another will consist of putting a heads-up display in the mask so that firefighters don't have to lean over and tilt up their oxygen gauge to check how much is left in the tank, Wilkerson said.
"This is just finishing up items from previous personal protective equipment upgrades," he said.
The district has 15 career firefighters, six resident firefighters and four volunteers and covers 55 square miles in east Jefferson County including Port Ludlow.
Since 2004, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program has provided almost $3.1 billion in grants to fire departments and first responder organizations to buy response equipment, personal protective equipment, vehicles and fire prevention activities.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-417-3532 or brian.gawley@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: December 02. 2007 9:00PM