Eden Volunteers are Awarded AFG Grant

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Eden Volunteers are Awarded AFG Grant
By
Jan 27, 2009, 14:07

On Friday January 23rd, The Eden Fire Company was named in the 21st Round of the FEMA AFG Grant. "A program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), grants are awarded to fire departments to enhance their ability to protect the public and fire service personnel from fire and related hazards. Three types of grants are available: Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S), and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER). The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations."-Firegrantsupport.com

The Company was awarded $51,120 under Operations & Safety. The grant money will be applied to upgrading rescue company services for our community and surrounding municipalities. Several items to be purchased will greatly increase stabilization, extrication and general rescue capabilities.

These items include the following: Paratech Interstate/Motorway Stabilization Kit, (2) 26-ton Paratech Medium Pressure Rescue Cushions, a complete Hurst Mini Lite hydraulic system and 8 additional Paratech Maxiforce lifting bags.

"The Interstate/Motorway VSK has a maximum load capacity of 120,000 lbs(54,431.1 kg) GVWR with a 4:1 safety factor. Paratech’s Interstate/Motorway VSK has enough components to stabilize multiple vehicles and enough strength to support the largest vehicles on any terrain."-paratech

Paratech Medium Pressure Air Bags will allow for additional stabilization options, as well as higher lifts of heavy objects. In addition, the eight high pressure lifting bags will compliment the current 374 ton system currently in service on Truck 24.

The Hurst Mini-Lite system will prove useful in several rescue scenarios. These include confined spaces, machinery entanglements and rapid intervention team operations. The system is compact and completely portable.

Chief Dave Howey was responsible for writing this successful grant. This is his first AFG Federal Grant that he had prepared. He wanted to give a special thanks to Chief Rick Kane and FF Eric Bachman who gave him assistance with the grant process.