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Dunklin Fire receives $110K FEMA Grant

(Post Date 07-28-2007)

The Dunklin Fire District applied for, and has been awarded a FEMA Grant to purchase new protective equipment for the Firefighters. Captain Dustin Blake says the grant, which was awarded to the District on 01-26-2007 is intended for the purchase of new personal protective equipment for firefighters. Blake said the firefighters were "extremely excited" about receiving the latest firefighting technology when he broke the news to them.

Blake advised the average cost to outfit a firefighter with personal protective equipment is roughly $3,500.00. The District had originally planned a purchase/lease deal for new protective gear after the recent approval of the .25 tax levy. Blake said if the District would have went that route, it would have taken a large portion of the annual budget over the next several years just to pay the new protective equipment off. Now, the District may use those funds for other issues.

The protective equipment that the district will replace is over 12 years old and very worn. The gear just deteriorates when repeatedly exposed to fire and other incidents Blake adds.

The District was awarded $110,580.00 to be used only on Personal Protective Equipment. Blake said firefighters field tested several types of protective gear from various manufactures, prior to making the purchase decision. The firefighters decision was based on the comfort, features, performance and value on the selected gear. The District took delivery of the new protective gear in Mid-June. "The new gear is much lighter, comfortable and safer for the firefighters", Blake expressed.

The new gear also provides many enhanced safety features the older gear couldn't. "Buddy-breathing" systems allow firefighters to inter-connect themselves should one of them run out on air during a fire, allowing them to escape the situation. Several advanced warning features are incorporated on the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), to warn the firefighter of low-air situations. This provides several minutes of warning so the firefighters may plan an escape should they start running low on air. The old SCBA system would allow for roughly 20 minutes of air, and the new SCBA's allow roughly 45 minutes, and are significantly lighter. Voice amplifiers are now attached to the face pieces to allow each firefighter to communicate in the building and call out for victims. Face pieces are now individually assigned, which was previously shared which will help reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

The District also purchased new Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) equipment. "Our District has never had anything like this" Blake said. RIT equipment allows firefighters to Rapidly rescue a downed firefighter or citizen during a fire or other emergency. The firefighters may use the RIT equipment to provide air to a downed citizen when the firefighters find them inside a burning house.

Blake says the new equipment will benefit not only the firefighters but the citizens of our Community tremendously. The District invites anyone to stop by Station # 1 and look over the new personal protective equipment