North Centerville
Volunteer Fire Company No. 1
Project Tile: Formation of a Rapid Intervention Team
Purpose: Protect the health and safety of firefighters from fire and fire-related hazards.
Project Description:
North Centerville Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 is an all-volunteer fire department organized in 1934 to protect and serve the residents of Hazlet Township, New Jersey. We presently serve a population of approximately 22,000. The municipality is primarily a middle income, suburban community located in the Tri-State Area surrounding New York City. Our membership includes 45 active and exempt firefighters. The demographic of our firefighters is primarily individuals of 35 years of age and older with greater than 10 years in the fire service.
As statistics show, the line of duty deaths for firefighters, with the exception of 2001, have demonstrated an alarmingly steady trend since 1972 despite the major advances in firefighting protective equipment in that time. Also alarming is that over 50% of the line of duty deaths in 2002 were attributed to volunteer or part-time firefighters. To that end, we have an inherent responsibility to protect the most valuable asset of our fire company, our personnel. Based on this, we have determined the programmatic goal and objective for our grant proposal.
NCVFC is submitting a project under the Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety Program. The purpose of our project is to provide the necessary firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment, and training to firefighters so they may act as a Rapid Intervention Team. The objectives of our Rapid Intervention Team program will be as follows:
· Protect and/or rescue firefighters in case of incapacity
· Provide survival training to firefighters so they may be better prepared to rescue themselves as well as others
· Promote interoperability with surrounding municipalities through RIT team sharing
· Work to eliminate hazardous situations to protect the life safety of firefighters
The Rapid Intervention Team provides the incident commander with a group prepared with the required equipment, tools, and manpower to rescue a fallen or trapped firefighter. This group is essential in today’s fire ground and is recommended by the National Fire Protection Association in their NFPA 1500 and NFPA 1720 codes. Presently, an incident commander would have to expend time to collect a group of firefighters to perform a rescue of fallen firefighters. While the 2 in 2 out rule is in effect, this will only provide two individuals to intervene in a firefighter emergency situation while a RIT, based on our guidelines, would provide up to six. In addition, these firefighters may not have the advanced training necessary to carry out rescue operations or the equipment necessary to rescue trapped individuals.
The project proposed within this grant application will provide the firefighter’s of the North Centerville Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 with PPE, equipment, and training necessary to be effective and not just inject another group of firefighters into an already tenuous situation.
As a secondary, but direct result of our program, the health and well being of our firefighters will be examined. All individuals that wish to participate in the rapid intervention team will undergo a mandatory physical prior to becoming part of the team. Since the most common cause of fire fighter line of duty deaths is heart attack, this alone will work to protect many of the firefighters of NCVFC.
The following paragraphs will describe our project in greater detail, outline the budgetary requirements, describe the financial need of our fire department, and outline the benefits should we receive an award.
Personal
Protective Equipment Acquisitions:
The Rapid Intervention Team of NCVFC will be designated by the Incident Commander to protect or rescue any firefighter within the atmosphere that is immediately dangerous to life and health. Our group will consist of up to six individuals whom have received the proper training and entry physical to be a part of the RIT. These six will be from a pool of at least 15-20 of our Active firefighters that will receive the essential training and physicals. These firefighters will be provided with NFPA compliant PPE, some of which will be purchased through the grant award, specialized PPE to protect the rescuer in the event of a “bail out” condition, and the necessary equipment to perform rescue operations.
The PPE to be purchased under the grant project will include:
· Six - 60 minute SCBAs in order to allow for search time as well as enable the firefighter to perform work and remove the fallen or trapped individual once located. Presently, NCVFC has only 30 minute SCBAs, which would not provide sufficient air to perform the necessary tasks. In addition, this purchase will contain integrated PASS alarm systems and will enable the removal of six SCBAs from operation that do not have the integrated PASS system.
· One spare 60 minute cylinder for each of the 60 minute SCBAs.
· Escape belt/harness and “bail out” rope which will allow these individuals to remove themselves from an IDLH atmosphere should they become disoriented, isolated, or outside the protection of the hose team.
· NFPA and OSHA Compliant helmets
· NFPA and OSHA Compliant gloves which are more dexterous than the typical firefighting glove
· Personal lights
Total Budget for PPE = $ 33,920
Firefighting
Equipment Acquisitions:
It will be necessary for the RIT to have the equipment to perform rescue operations. However, it is also necessary to be realistic in the types of equipment that can be used in a fire atmosphere. To that end, we have selected equipment that NCVFC has not been able to acquire through our normal equipment budget, but would be effective for RIT operations. We have not included a Thermal Imaging Camera, as the State of New Jersey has previously provided these to all municipalities through a State grant process. In addition, we have not included internal combustion power saws since the Fire Company is already in possession of these items and they may not be effective in the IDLH atmosphere.
The equipment to be purchased under the grant project includes:
· Oriented man search rope systems to allow the RIT to mark their path and search more effectively for fallen firefighters
· A cordless reciprocating saw(s) with rescue blades to provide rescue saw capabilities without the problems that combustion engines may encounter in a smoke filled atmosphere.
· Hydraulic ram tool to loosen or lift fallen debris from fallen firefighters.
· Hydraulic cutting and spreading combination tool with hand pump to cut or free a fallen firefighter from debris.
· Firefighting hand tools
Total Budget for Firefighting Equipment = $14,200
Training
Activities:
The most important part of our Rapid Intervention Team project is the provision of training to the active firefighters of NCVFC. While the Rapid Intervention team’s equipment will assist in the rescue of the firefighters in danger, our training program will provide for survival training, search training, and rapid intervention team rescue training. The firefighter survival training will be the first in the series of training courses provided to the firefighters of NCVFC. With this survival training, should any of our firefighters find themselves disoriented or incapacitated, they may be able to rescue themselves. This would obviously be the best situation for all. However, should it be necessary, the RIT members will be trained in advanced and oriented man search techniques to locate a fallen firefighter. Finally, the Rapid Intervention Team rescue training will be given, rounding out a total training curriculum.
All training described will be direct delivery training held as a group. This will be held at our firehouse or at a local training academy. The instructors will be on a contractual basis with the cost reflective of the number of students participating. At this time, we have discussed the training needs with Fire Ground Technologies of Edison, New Jersey. The lead trainers are Larry Cohen and Walter Boychick, whom together have over 40 years of firefighting experience with FDNY and the Verona, NJ Fire Department. Together, we have assembled a curriculum of courses to provide the necessary training to engage in RIT operations.
Total Budget for Firefighting Training = $8,200
Wellness and
Fitness Activities:
Rapid Intervention Team Physical
North Centerville Volunteer Fire Company has an existing policy for entry physicals. However, we do not have a policy for follow up physicals. Many of our active firefighters have been in the Fire Company for over 10 years, but have not taken a mandatory, firefighting related physical since joining. As stated earlier, the most common cause for line of duty deaths are heart attacks. In order to ensure that the individuals that will participate in the Rapid Intervention team are in satisfactory health, they will be required to go through a physical examination. The physical will be more involved than the entry physical and will include an electrocardiogram as well as a chest x-ray. This will allow the medical professional to ascertain the physical ability of each individual to perform the unusually strenuous activities associated with fire/rescue operations.
Total Budget for RIT Team Physicals = $3,000.
Definition of
Need:
The North Centerville Volunteer Fire Company is an all-volunteer fire company mainly supported through a municipal fire district. The residents of Hazlet Township have recently been facing excessive tax increases and have not accepted any additional tax levy to support the fire service. The residents are typically middle income or Senior Citizens and work hard to make ends meet. In addition, State Aid has been drastically cut for Education, which has necessitated double-digit percentage increases in this property tax levy, leaving no reasonably justifiable increase for any other municipal service.
Presently, North Centerville Volunteer Fire Company receives an equipment allowance of $30,000 per calendar year. This allowance provides the essential equipment to maintain NFPA and OSHA requirements including personal protective and firefighting equipment and replacement of equipment, which may be damaged, destroyed, or is beyond its useful life. In addition, NCVFC has been using this allowance to slowly replace turn out gear, which is out of compliance, and we will need to continue this practice for the next several years. This will not allow us to purchase the necessary equipment for the RIT through our budget allowance.
NCVFC also receives a $3,000 stipend for firefighter training. Once the required training for line officers, purchase of basic firefighting training materials for incoming members, and an occasional guest instructor are completed, these funds quickly disappear. NCVFC attempts to perform all training through our County Fire Academy, but their curriculum is limited.
Other funds provided by the Fire District include the maintenance of our engines and other vehicles, fuel cost, and a stipend to pay utility bills for the firehouse. These funds are used to the last penny and additional fund raising is necessary to run the basic functions of the firehouse.
In addition to our budget allowance, NCVFC raises funds to support the Fire Company through various means throughout the year. This includes renting our banquet hall, comedy night, raffles, and any other idea that comes our way. However, these fundraisers typically provide funds to support the general operation of the firehouse and do not allow us additional equipment purchases.
Finally, Hazlet Township is a suburban, residential community with a small percentage industry and commercial entities. We have tried, but have not recently been successful in the solicitation of these type businesses for any additional support beyond the property taxes that they contribute. We have applied for other grants, such as the grant provided for by GSK/Tums, but have been unsuccessful to date.
Our goal of providing a Rapid Intervention Team, which will be available to surrounding communities, will not be attainable without additional funding. If successful, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant will be our sole source of funding for this operation. Without the award, we will need to depend on other municipalities to provide this function. To date, few, if any, others in the area have been able to construct a team with the training and equipment necessary to provide RIT coverage.
Grant Team and
Funds Management:
Our grant team is comprised of our line officers, Chief Robert Preston, Captain Michael Bracken, 1st Lt. John Boyle, 2nd Lt. Andrew Christ, and 2nd Lt. Joseph Sarro. In addition, our Ex-Chief Thomas Horner provided invaluable guidance in the grant preparation. These individuals will be involved in the management of our Grant and the implementation of the Rapid Intervention Team.
The day to day management of the grant funds will lie with 2nd Lt. Andrew Christ. He is a trustee of the North Centerville Volunteer Fire Company and will work with our Board of Trustees and Treasurer to oversee the expenditures.
Summary:
The North Centerville Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 of Hazlet Township, New Jersey has compiled a comprehensive project to assemble a Rapid Intervention Team. The main goal of this project is to protect the life and safety of firefighters. By providing a physical, training, personal protective equipment, and firefighting equipment, we have compiled a complete program that will, first and foremost, attempt to keep firefighters safe and out of harms way. However, should this occur, the team will be trained to find and rescue their comrades. Should one life be saved by the formation of this team, then the monies will be well spent.
Enabling the surrounding municipalities to call on others to provide this NFPA recommended rescue team without stripping their own manpower is the major benefit of this project. This team will be available to surrounding municipalities to assist them in better utilization of their manpower for fire suppression activities. All volunteer fire companies have experienced a decline in membership over the years and the Bayshore, New Jersey area is no exception. Through our mutual aid association and County dispatcher, our Rapid Intervention Team will be available to any town that needs the assistance.
The North Centerville Volunteer Fire Company hopes that we are successful in our grant project proposal. We feel that the benefits of our project are far reaching and will impact many fire departments in our area.