(KNSI) — Millions of dollars in grants to help fire departments could soon be made available thanks to the passage of the Fire Grants and Safety Act Thursday.
The passage reauthorizes grant funding for SAFER, known as Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, Assistance to Firefighters, and the U.S. Fire Administration.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith says in the past, firefighters were called out when there was a fire. Now, aside from running into dangerous fire situations, they assist in all areas, including medical events, car accidents and rescue operations. That means the equipment, training and tactics they use have also changed, but sometimes, especially in smaller communities with volunteer personnel, the equipment hasn’t.
Smith explains, “Minnesota has nearly 800 fire departments, and 97% of our firefighters are volunteers. So you can imagine everywhere, but especially in smaller departments, what a challenge it is for them to be able to have the resources to upgrade their firetruck or make sure that their firefighters have the best safety equipment, and that’s what these grants do. They really are depended on by local departments.”
St. Cloud has a career department with fire stations staffed 24/7 and mutual aid agreements with neighboring towns, most of which are volunteer.
Sometimes, older tools such as spreaders and the jaws of life are not strong enough or fast enough to get someone cut out of a car in a reasonable amount of time, so a saws-all is needed. Newer tools, many of which are battery operated, are stronger and faster but are also expensive, and departments may not be able to buy them, so they’re working with outdated equipment.
The grant process allows departments to ask for money for exactly what they need, such as buying up-to-date vehicles and safety equipment, staff recruitment and retention, fire rescue training, technical rescues and education programs, and improving emergency medical services and health screenings for firefighters.
Senator Smith says local fire departments and residents have benefitted from the money in the past, as the Sartell Fire Department used a grant to buy their new fire truck. St. Martin also used grant funding for operations and improved safety training.
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