Politics & Government

Springfield Fire Department Receives Major Federal Grants

Grants will fund new equipment, kickstart volunteer program.

Congressman Leonard Lance presented Springfield’s Fire Department with two federal security grants at the Springfield Township Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 26.

The two grants total totaling $270,948 and will help provide Springfield’s fire department with needed equipment and enhance the department’s volunteer program.

The Springfield Fire Department received a $102,148 security grant to improve its fire/rescue operations, firefighter safety and specialized training.  The Springfield Fire Department also received a $168,800 security grant to help the department develop a volunteer recruitment and retention program that aims to recruit volunteer firefighters to help support Springfield Fire Department’s full-time staff.
 
“Springfield firefighters work day and night to protect our community," Lance said.  "These significant federal grant funds will help protect these first responders as they carry out their important jobs in public safety and help the department make much needed enhancements and upgrades.”

Springfield will match the federal portion by using $5,376 from the fire department’s equipment and training budget lines.
 
Springfield Fire Chief James Sanford told the Township Committee the funds will let the Department purchase new equipment, namely hose adapters and replacement hose with provide color-coded hose thread adapters. The adaptors allow the fire department to easily identify their own lines when working with fire crews from neighboring towns, making mutual aid operations more efficient.

The adaptors will let fire fighters request pressure changes, additional manpower or otherwise identify their location based on the color of the hose. The hoses’ couplings will be marked with arrows firefighters can use as guides to get out of or find each other in a structure during fire and smoke conditions.

The funds will also allow the department to provide trench rescue training for the department.  Additionally, the grant funds will be used to upgrade the department’s radio equipment to comply with new FCC banding requirements. 

The firefighter retention grant allows the department to develop a volunteer recruitment and retention program to support Springfield Fire Department’s career personnel. The grant will cover the recruitment costs for drug screenings, psychological fitness exams and medical fitness exams. Once the volunteer is accepted to the Springfield Fire Department, the grant will provide the recruit with a set of personal protective equipment. These recruitment costs are $4,000 per new firefighter. 

Sanford stressed the importance of a retention program with incentives for fire and rescue service volunteers today in a press release on the grant. “Given the enormous time demands, training demands, and personal risk, it is easy for volunteers to burn out and quit after only a few years of service. Incentive programs are an essential component to maintaining a strong cadre of experienced volunteers, and to prevent a revolving door situation.”

Overall, Sanford said, the grants are a boon for the department and the Township.

“These federal grant funds are significant and will help our department make many equipment upgrades to enhance public safety and will provide our firefighters the resources and training they need to carry out their important jobs,” Sanford said.


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