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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...
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