Title
Resolution - A Resolution of the City of Mansfield, Texas, Authorizing the City Manager and the Fire Department to Make Application and Receive Funds from the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) to fund Nine Firefighter Paramedics not to Exceed $1,651,392 for a Performance Period of Two Years
Requested Action
Approval by the City Council for the City Manager and the City of Mansfield Fire Department to make Application and Receive Funds from the 2014 Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER).
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the resolution.
Description/History
The Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) was created to provide funding directly to fire departments to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA 1710. The projected award date will start on June 1, 2015 and end no later than September 30, 2015. There are no annual salary limits, and there are no cost-sharing requirements for funds under the FY 2014 appropriations.
For all grantees under the Hiring of Firefighters category, a default 180-day recruitment period begins when the application is approved for award. The two year period of performance automatically starts after the 180-day recruitment period, regardless of whether the grantee has successfully hired or rehired the requested firefighters.
Justification
The need for an adequate number of firefighters assembled on the scene of a residential structure fire within 8 minutes of alarm notification refers to the ability to accomplish strategic tactical objectives designed to reduce the progressive growth of the fire before any of the following occur: flashover, structural integrity of the building against collapse is compromised, or the volume and density of smoke as well as high heat conditions make victim survival unlikely. With today's construction methods and materials, collapse potential increases to a dangerous level when fire directly involves the structural components of a building for greater than 20 minutes. The goal should be to address strategic tactical objectives in simultaneous fashion within 10 to 15 minutes.
National Fire Protection Association 1710 Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments indicates the adequate number of personnel to accomplish the listed objectives shall be assembled on scene in the initial full alarm assignment within 8 minutes response time at least 90% of the time.
· Incident Command
· Establish Uninterrupted water supply of 400 gpm for 30 minutes
· Establish effective water flow application rate of 300gpm from two handlines
· Victim Search and Rescue Team
· Ventilation Team
· Aerial operations
· Establishment of Initial Rapid Intervention Crew
To be fully compliant with NFPA 1710 it requires 4 man staffing on all fire apparatus. With this grant approval, we are able to move forward in the direction of full compliance by providing 4 man constant staffing on our two aerial apparatus.
Funding Source
Federal Funds during the first two years, General Operating budget after the 2 year period of performance.
Prepared By
Barry Bondurant, Fire Chief