Title
Resolution Authorizing 2015 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for Thermal Imaging Cameras
Body
Department: Fire
Council District: All
Public Hearing: N/A
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Clarence Hunter, Deputy Fire Chief
Contact 2 and Phone: Michael Swails, Division Fire Chief
PURPOSE:
The Greensboro Fire Department (GFD) seeks to apply for federal funding in the amount of $94,484 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), a FEMA-administered program. The AGF involves a 10% local matching requirement of $9,448, which is included in the $103,932 application total. If the grant is awarded, the funding would be utilized to purchase Thermal imaging cameras for fire apparatus. Thermal imaging cameras are critical search and rescue equipment, and their use results in dramatic increases in civilian rescue, firefighter safety, reducing property damages, and overall fire ground performance.
City Council approval is required for this matching grant.
BACKGROUND:
Typical structure fires result in zero visibility for firefighters due to the trapped dense smoke. Thermal imaging cameras restore sight to firefighters, helping them to maintain orientation within a building, to identify hazards above, below, and around them, to find the source of the fire, and to ultimately locate any endangered or trapped civilians. Rapidly locating the source of the fire, including “hidden” fires, increases firefighter safety and survivability, and reduces property losses by limiting fire growth and associated damage. Additionally, on every working fire that occurs inside a burning structure, Greensboro firefighters operate with a backup team in place, ready in the event that one or more interior firefighters gets into trouble. This backup team is the Rapid Intervention Crew, or “RIC”, and firefighter rescue is its sole responsibility. A thermal imaging camera is an essential tool when searching for a missing, trapped, or downed firefighter.
If awarded, the grant would fund the purchase of nine thermal imaging cameras. This would allow the GFD to place a camera on each of the last four engines in the city not currently equipped with one. An award would also provide a camera for Engine 63, which will be placed into service in 2015. Of the remaining four cameras, one would serve as a departmental spare, while three would replace older cameras nearing the end of their lifecycle.
The grant application has already been submitted, as the deadline occurred prior to a time allowing for prior City Council approval.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The GFD has budgeted funds for tools and equipment. If the grant is awarded, the local match of $9,448 will be utilized from the existing budget funds to leverage $94,484, for a total project budget of $103,932.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Fire Department requests Councils consideration to approve the following:
a. Authorization for the Greensboro Fire Department to apply for a 2015 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for Rapid Intervention Crew Equipment at the project amount of $103,932, which includes the $9,448 local match amount
COMMITTEE ACTION: This item was referred to Council by the Public Safety Committee.