Manchester Township Fire Department receives Federal Emergency Management Agency Grant
The Manchester Township Fire Department has been selected to receive an Assistance to Firefighter’s Act Grant for Firefighter Safety and Operations during the 19th round of awards in 2007 for $130,625.00. The grant was prepared and written by Fire Chief Bill Scully.The grant requested funding to replace the departments out dated Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), high pressure compressor system, and a Rapid Intervention Pack. The project totals $137,500. The Manchester Twp Fire Department will provide 5% ($6,875) that is required by the terms of the grant. FEMA will fund the remaining 95% ($130,625).
The high pressure compressor system is used to refill the SCBA tanks after each use. The current compressor is 40+ years old. It was purchased from Chelsea Fire Department 15 years ago. Chelsea had bought the compressor from Ann Arbor City Fire Department several years prior to that. The new compressor will have a capacity of 6000 psi vs. 3000 psi of the current compressor. It will allow the use of high pressure SCBA units. The compressor will have high pressure storage tanks, and an explosion proof fill station for filling the SCBA tanks. The 21 new SCBAs will operate at 4500 psi vs. 2216 psi that is currently used, and will weigh on average 15 pounds lighter. The new tanks are rated for 30 minutes of use as the current tanks are, but they are about 2/3 the size. The smaller size may allow a firefighter to fit through a smaller opening if they would become trapped in a fire, or were performing a rescue of a trapped person. The new SCBAs will be equipped with an automatic personal alert safety system (PASS) that will activate if a firefighter becomes motionless due to becoming lost or trapped in a fire. When activated the PASS unit will produce flashing lights and a loud squealing noise. The SCBAs will also be equipped with a buddy breathing devise, enabling one firefighter to share his air tank with another firefighter that may have run out of air while working in an unfriendly environment. They will also be equipped with a locating device that will produce a radio signal if the PASS activates. The dept. is hoping to buy a hand held tracker that will point rescue firefighters to the location of the downed firefighter. A spare air tank will be purchased for each of the SCBAs. The RIT pack can be taken to a trapped or lost firefighter to provide emergency air. The RIT pack will have a 60 minute air tank that will allow sufficient time to perform a rescue on a trapped firefighter.
All of the purchased equipment will meet the latest standards set by the Nation Fire Protection Association. The old equipment will be sold to help fund the fire departments portion of the project.
The Assistance to Firefighter Act Grant Program was started in 2001 to provide much needed firefighting equipment and fire vehicles to fire departments through out the United States. This year FEMA will distribute $547 million to fire departments and EMS organizations.
Chief Scully has completed the application for Manchester Township Fire Department every year since the program was started. The new equipment should start arriving in January, and the goal is to have all of the new equipment in service by spring.
Not only will firefighters have the much needed new equipment, but it will only require a fraction of tax payer money to purchase the equipment. The new compressor system will cost just under $30, 000, the new SCBA’s will cost $5,000 each, and the RIT pack will cost $2500.
