FIRE OPERATIONS – FIREFIGHTER SAFETY PROJECT PROPOSAL

The Lakeview Heights Fire Protection District is dedicated to protecting the health and safety of the community they faithfully serve.  Our belief in the importance of safety education, fire suppression, EMS response, and fire prevention services, is firmly supported by our community.  We are united in recognizing the significance of what new firefighting and personal protective equipment (PPE) represents to the safety and effectiveness of our firefighters.  Therefore, we submit the following projects for your funding consideration.

 

In the PPE category, we are proposing a first-time purchase of ten (10) self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units, including an integrated personal alert safety system (PASS) and a spare cylinder for each unit.  The PASS device will be of the type that cannot be bypassed by the user.  Each unit will be compliant with all current safety standards for structural firefighting.  The ten units will adequately equip those members of our fire department that are physically fit and capable of rescue operations.  The addition of SCBAs to our current PPE (turn out gear) will reposition our firefighting strategy from a defense-only mode to a defense/offense posture, with the ability to safely initiate a rescue.

 

As per consultation with numerous equipment suppliers, the estimated cost of each SCBA unit an Integrated PASS device meeting all NFPA and OSHA specifications is $3,000.  Upon notification of the grant award, we will request bids from these suppliers and purchase the equipment from the lowest successful bidder.  Our district has a skilled volunteer with the qualifications and experience to provide in-house training and perform routine maintenance on this equipment.

 

In the firefighting equipment category, we are proposing to purchase a four-cylinder 4,500-psi cascade refill system with control panel and rupture containment.  We plan to have this system mounted horizontally into a 6' x 8' covered trailer with a rack for holding spare SCBA cylinders.  This equipment is needed to support any incidents requiring the use of SCBAs, as the nearest refill station is over twenty miles away with a normal turnaround time of two to three days.  This system will meet or exceed all current safety standards for breathing air.

 

As per consultation with numerous suppliers, the estimated cost of the Mobile Cascade Refill System is $11,000.  Upon notification of the grant award, we will request bids from these suppliers and purchase the equipment from the lowest successful bidder.  A qualified and experienced volunteer in our district will provide in-house training and perform routine maintenance on this equipment.


PROJECT BENEFITS

 

The acquisition of SCBAs with integrated PASS devices and a mobile cascade refill system will greatly augment our capabilities for the protection of the health, safety and lives of our firefighting personnel.  Our firefighters already have the challenge of delivering protection services because of complicated geographic areas with difficult roads to navigate.  With these delays, response time becomes more critical.  Properly outfitted with this new equipment, our firefighters will be better prepared upon arrival at incidents involving smoke filled structures.  Therefore, we would have the solid ability to initiate a timely rescue in a structure fire or other incidents lacking breathable air.  Additionally, we will be in voluntarily compliance with current NFPA and OSHA standards, including the establishment of a “Rapid Intervention Team” for our district.

 

In addition to our year-round and summer residents throughout the county, there is fire protection accountability for five nursing homes, a new airport, numerous motels/resorts, churches, farm operations, some industry-based businesses and conservation interests.  Therefore, all seven fire districts in Benton County will benefit from the mutual-aid availability of this equipment.  Although our call volume is relatively low, a life saved is a life saved, for which there can be no price, whether it be firefighter or resident.

 

There will be training benefits for all fire districts in our county, as our SCBAs and the Mobile Cascade Refill System, will be available for multi-department exercises.  It will also benefit firefighters from adjacent counties who attend training that is co-sponsored by the University of Missouri and the Firefighters Association of Missouri.

 

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