TI Grant Writing Success: Vera Cruz, Pennsylvania (population 3,600)
In 2004, Kevin Kleinsmith, President of Citizen’s Fire Company of
Upper Milford Township in Vera Cruz, Pennsylvania, 
constructed an
appeal to the Department of Homeland Security for a thermal imager,
bunker gear, an exhaust removal system, fire hose tester, and several
pieces of cleaning equipment. Kevin took full advantage of the Bullard
assistance program, getting ideas from grants available at www.thermalimager.com,
as well as requesting a free review of his drafted narrative from
Bullard. On August 6, this 27-member volunteer department was awarded
$106,254, and $12,000 was used to purchase a Bullard Thermal Imager.
Benefits of Thermal Imaging: “We focused on the health and safety of firefighters and the health and safety of the community. Our application mentioned the use of thermal imaging by the Rapid Intervention Team, as well as the use of the technology in responding to motor vehicle accidents on and off the Pennsylvania Turnpike.”
Demonstrating Need: “In the TI section of our narrative, a good part of our case was based on the usefulness of the technology in helping us with motor vehicle accident responses. We explained in the department overview that approximately 28,000 vehicles travel through the district on the Pennsylvania Turnpike every day. We also emphasized the use of thermal imaging as a critical tool for our Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) and for use on our mutual aid calls.”
Resources Utilized: “We knew we wanted a thermal imager, and I spent some time on line looking for help. No other thermal imager manufacturers had the content Bullard had to help with the process. I also reviewed winning applications from departments surrounding ours, to see how they had approached it. When I had drafted the narrative, it made my job a lot easier that Bullard offered a free review. We couldn’t have gotten the money without all the resources we used.”
Keys to success: “Use every available resource you can find – neighboring
departments, websites, and the help offered by Bullard. One of the
most helpful things was reviewing narratives that other departments
shared.”
(For the full 2004 Citizen’s Fire Company of Upper Milford narrative,
click here.)