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Home My WebLink About04/06/2004, C6 - GRANT APPLICATION FOR FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTER GRANT PROGRAM council MmnD� 4-6-04 j acEnaa Repout 1�.N..6. C I T Y OF SAN LU IS O B I S P O FROM: Wolfgang Knabe, Fire Chief CLL _ Prepared By: Viv R. Dilts, Administrative Analyst Greg Otto, Fire Training Captain SUBJECT: GRANT APPLICATION FOR FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTER GRANT PROGRAM CAO RECOMMENDATION Authorize staff to submit a grant application in the amount of $103,500 from the Federal Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program for a Comprehensive Training Program. 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 2004, Congress appropriated$750 million. Grant Request The responsibilities of our Training Division have increased significantly over the last decade. In 1997, a study concluded that the Federal and State required training level had reached a total of 166 hours/year/Firefighter. Given the Training Division's other responsibilities (emergency response), it has only been able to deliver 144 hours/year/Firefighter. This grant will allow the department to better meet the mandated training requirements. What Are the Specific Requests? Traming 1. Confined Space Operations Confined Space Entry and Rescue is one of the most challenging and dangerous rescue operations facing fire departments today. Situations involving trapped victims in confined spaces legally require specialized training and equipment prior to entry and mitigation. Council Agenda Report-Grant Application Page 2 Examples of situations involving trapped victims include: collapsed buildings, trench collapse, pipe, well, vault or tank incidents. The Fire Department responds to a wide range of emergencies. Our personnel are currently trained to the Awareness level, which is an OSHA requirement. When making entry into confined spaces, OSHA requires Operational level training. In addition to the training, OSHA requires specialized equipment when working at the Operational level. The Department currently does not possess Operational level equipment. The required class consists of a 40-hour course delivered by certified instructors; with an instructor/student ratio of 1/10 during the manipulative portion of the class. The most cost effective program would include hiring two instructors to teach the 40-hour classes to each of the three platoons. The training would be offered to other departments within the City who deal with confined space situations. The equipment cache would be centrally located and available for response to incidents as well as future training. ITEM COST Training $ 20,000 Backfill (OT) During Manipulative Training $ 3,000 Rescue Tripod $ 5,000 Breathing System $ 10,000 Communications Equipment $ 6,000 Gas Monitor $ 2,000 Ropes and Hardware $ 15,000 Miscellaneous Protective Equipment $ 1,000 TOTAL $ 62,000 2. EMS(Emergency Medical Services) Pen-Based Reporting System The Fire Department responds to approximately 4,000 calls for service annually; a majority of these are for medical care. One paramedic is staffed on each of the City's four fire engines. The paramedic is responsible for a complete and legible patient care report, which includes a description of medical findings and documentation of all care delivered. Currently, fire personnel are completing hand written reports that are turned in at the hospital during the transfer patient care. Pen-based reporting systems have been available for years,but have been problematic at best. Recently however, we have seen an improvement throughout the industry. The current devices are storing more information and are faster and more user-friendly. Today, electronic or pen-based computer systems are used by many EMS providers for documentation of required information. The San Luis Obispo County Emergency Medical Services Agency (SMSA), an arm of the State EMS Authority, regulates emergency medical services (EMS) provided by our fire department and other EMS providers. In addition to the documentation requirement, the �i�Zi ti Council Agenda Report-Grant Application_ Page 3 EMSA mandates that each provider agency maintain a quality assurance/improvement program, which consists of monitoring field care by way of audits. When a need for improvement is identified, training occurs to ensure that a standard of care is maintained. A pen-based system would eliminate the current practice of sorting through hand written reports,which is time consuming and inefficient. The plan is to place a"Pocket PC" on each of the fire engines and squad. Equipment at each of the two local hospitals will be purchased to download and print the patient information. Units at the fire stations will be purchased to capture and store the information on the computer network. ITEM COST Program Software $ 9,000 Pocket PC Devices $ 11,000 Printing Hardware $ 1,000 Training $ 1,000 TOTAL $ 22,000 Training Equipment A variety of equipment will be required to adequately deliver these programs. One portable power point projector is needed to deliver off-site training. A fixed power-point projector for the Fire Department Training Room will be used for ongoing training programs at Fire Station 1. A scanner is needed for development of graphics to create training materials, handbooks and brochures. Containers for transporting audio-visual equipment are required for ease of transport to deliver off-site presentations. A lap-top computer is necessary for delivering off-site training classes. A portable projector screen will be needed to deliver off-site presentations at various locations. A CD burner is required to aid in the development of.power-point presentations and other graphic arts materials. A PA system is necessary to deliver off-site training presentations throughout the City. We are requesting the following audio-visual equipment: ITEM COST PowerPoint Projector(Portable) $ 2,200 PowerPoint Projector(Fixed in Training Room) $ 10,000 Scanner(Document) $ 300 Containers w/Pull Cart(Hold Audio-Visual Equipment) $ 500 Lap Top Computer with Remote Control and Speakers $ 2,500 Portable Projector Screen $ 500 CD Burner $ 200 PA System $ _ 3,300 TOTAL $ 199500 ��3 �1 Council Agenda Report-Grant Application Page 4 FISCAL IMPACT If the City receives grant funding from the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program, it would require a 10% match or $10, 350. The matching funds will be covered within the current department budget with no additional cost to the General Fund. Mutual Aid reimbursements ($10;000) together with potential cost savings in our Physical Fitness Program ($2,000) will cover the matching fund costs. 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. G:/Council Agenda Reports/CAR-2004 FEMA Grant Program