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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: David McCabe, Deputy Fire Chief
DATE: August 24, 2020
SUBJECT:
Requesting approval to accept a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award for new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
PURPOSE:
The Aurora Fire Department (AFD) applied for a FEMA AFG award to purchase new SCBA equipment, and was granted an award. Terms of the grant include the City of Aurora providing funds equaling 10% of the grant amount.
BACKGROUND:
The AFD last put new SCBA into service in November of 2010. The air packs included warranties that covered most parts for (10) years. The national standards for air packs are updated every five (5) years, meaning the AFD's packs are two generations behind the latest standards. A decision package had been approved to purchase new SCBAs this year at a cost of $820,000.00, which would allow the firefighters to have equipment meeting the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guideline.
DISCUSSION:
The SCBA is one of the most important pieces of equipment firefighters use. It allows personnel to go into hazardous conditions, including fires, where they would not otherwise be able to go. This allows them to enter dangerous areas to search for and save lives, protect property, and extinguish fires.
A decision package was submitted for 2020 to purchase new air packs, bottles, masks, and other necessary accessories at a cost of $820,000.00. This price would put new air packs on all front line engines, trucks, and ambulances, as well as reserve engines and trucks. Reserve ambulances, chief officers, and training would not receive new air packs. The package was written this way in order to be as frugal with the city's money as possible.
When the grant was written, packs were included for reserve ambulances, chief officers, and training. Also included are new air packs for the hazardous materials (Hazmat) team. The fire department would have submitted a new decision package in 2021 to purchase these in 2022, at a cost of about $100,000.00.
FEMA awarded the AFD a grant that was written to buy all the air packs and related equipment needed for the department. The total of the package is $1,072,500.00. The grant from FEMA covers $975,000.00, and the city's share would be $97,500.00.
There is currently a balance of $820,000.00 in SHAPE account #255-3033-422.38-01. The city's share of the price, or $97,500.00, would be taken from that account.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Purchasing new air packs for the AFD would help ensure that fire personnel have reliable equipment that meets the latest standards. By accepting the grant, the city will save over $700,000.00 from what was originally budgeted for the air packs, as well as an addition $100,000.00 in 2022, when the Hazmat air packs would have been replaced.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the city council authorize accepting the FEMA grant in the amount of $975,000.00 towards the purchase of new SCBA for the Aurora Fire Department.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the acceptance of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant in the amount of $975,000.00 towards the purchase of new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for the Aurora Fire Department.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Aurora Fire Department desires to replace its current self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with new devices meeting current National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) specifications; and
WHEREAS, the Aurora Fire Department and the City of Aurora were awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), which requires the City of Aurora to match 10% of the grant amount;
WHEREAS, funds in the amount of $820,000.00 have been allocated in SHAPE Fund, account # 255-3033-422-38.01 for the purchase of new SCBA and necessary accessories,)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: Hereby authorize the acceptance of the FEMA AFG in the amount of $975,000.