HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/03/2005, C5 - 2005 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT APPLICATION council MwigDe 5-3-05
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISP (O�
FROM: Wolfgang Knabe, Fire Chief Uk"L—
Prepared By: Viv R. Dilts, Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: 2005 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT APPLICATION
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Authorize staff to submit a grant application in the amount of$179,473 to the Federal Assistance
to Firefighter Grant Program for Vehicle Exhaust Extraction Systems in all four fire stations.
DISCUSSION
Background
State and federal grants are occasionally offered to assist local governments with the financial
impacts associated with daily operations and/or mandated programs. The Assistance to
Firefighters Grant Program is one of these programs. The purpose of this program is to award
one-year grants directly to fire departments to enhance their abilities with respect to fire and fire-
related hazards. This program seeks to support departments that lack the tools and resources
necessary to adequately perform their firefighting and/or emergency response duties. In fiscal
year 2005, Congress appropriated $650 million.
Grant Request
We are requesting funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to be used for
modifications of our fire stations per Section `e' "Modifications to Fire Stations and Facilities'.
It is our intent to install vehicle exhaust extraction systems in each of our four fire stations.
The purpose of this request, vehicle exhaust extraction system, is to protect Firefighters from the
cancer-causing effects of vehicle exhaust emissions generated by our apparatus during startup,
return, and training in our fire stations.. All stations have living quarters either adjacent to the
apparatus bay or over it. These systems would also protect the general public who visit our
stations for tours; to vote on elections (held in apparatus bays), and take classes; (e.g. Community
Emergency Response Training.) Personnel from other fire agencies also use our facilities to
attend meetings; (e.g. County Chiefs' Regional Grant Committee, County Training Officers'
Committee, and Central Coast Fire Prevention Association) and participate in EMT-1 classes and
local college firefighter academy training.
The proposed exhaust extraction system would be composed of hoses that would make an
airtight seal on the tailpipes of our apparatus. When the vehicles are on their way out of the
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2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Page 2
station, the extraction hose, connected to the exhaust by an air tight suction device moves along
with the vehicle. Diesel exhaust then passes from the air tight suction device to the extraction
hose, through the ducting and extraction fan before escaping to the atmosphere. This method
captures 100% of vehicle exhaust emissions. Currently, Fire Station No. 1, the newest station
built in 1996, has a 4-fan ventilation configuration that activates when any of the apparatus room
doors open or close. These fans operate on a timer and only capture a minor percentage of the
vehicle emissions.
The proposed system would allow us to meet National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standards
1500, 2002 Edition — Section A.9.1.6 which states, "This technical committee recognizes and
advocates the need for the elimination and the containment of all vehicle exhaust emissions to a
level of no less than 100 percent effective capture". The system would comply with the National
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requirement to reduce the emissions to the
lowest feasible level in an effort to reduce the health impact on human life. It would address the
California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 which was enacted by the California
legislature to assure safe and healthful working conditions for all California working men and
women.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the City were to receive grant funding from the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program, we
would have to match the Federal grant funds equal to 10% ($17,947) of the total project cost.
The matching funds would be covered with mutual aid revenues, which are currently over
$25,000. There would be no additional cost to the General Fund.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could decide not to pursue the grant monies. This is not recommended as fire
service grant opportunities are limited and the grant funds would only serve to enhance the
effectiveness of the Fire Department. In addition, this is a safety concern for the Firefighters
Association.
G:/Council Agenda Reports/CAR-2005 FEMA Grant Program
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