Grant Writer Focuses on Critical Infrastructure to Win AFG Money
Pine Grove, South Carolina (pop. 3,600) – In 2005, Dennis Ray, Training Officer and Grant Manager for Pine Grove Volunteer Fire Department (pop. 4,800), constructed an appeal to the Department of Homeland Security for a thermal imager, vehicle stabilization equipment, radios, DVD training materials, and wellness and fitness equipment. Dennis took full advantage of the Bullard assistance program, getting ideas from grants available at www.thermalimager.com, as well as requesting a review of his drafted narrative from Bullard. On December 16, Pine Grove VFD was awarded $78,805. Of that amount, $10,000 contributed toward the purchase of a Bullard T3MAX.
Benefits of Thermal Imaging: “The Wateree Lake is in our district, and it’s a big recreation area. I discussed the use of thermal imaging in searching for lost persons in and around the lake. I also brought up a fire fatality that happened in our district last year because of a prolonged interior search. It took us seven minutes, and we may have immediately found her if we had been using a thermal imager in the search. Thermal imagers are also an incredible asset for finding downed firefighters, doing size up and overhaul, and searching for victims after motor vehicle accident responses. Last, I discussed the fact that thermal imagers can help us stretch our unpredictable number of volunteer responders.”
Demonstrating Need: “In our application, we discussed our department’s protection of critical infrastructure, including the Duke Power Plant and the Lugoff Water Treatment Plant. At the time, only one station in the county, Camden Fire Department, was equipped with a thermal imager. We discussed our overall department operating budget of $24,000 and the $8,000 annual allocation we have to purchase and update equipment for two stations. We also described the fundraising activities that we run on a continuing basis to support the purchases we need to make. We raise an average of $10,000 a year by running a spaghetti dinner, barbecue dinner, picture drive and turkey shoot.”
Resources Utilized: “I asked other people in the department and the county Fire Marshal’s Office to help me collect statistics including population, square mileage and the age of our equipment. I used this information to write the application, and then I got help from Bullard and Action Training to proofread and provide suggestions. They both saw some things that I didn’t see, so that helped.”
Keys to success: “Don’t put it down in your application unless it’s a ‘must-have.’ The items you request should be things you need, not just things you want. Also, be sure to mention how the equipment can benefit other departments in your area. If your department is out of compliance with either mandatory regulations or voluntary standards, that information will really help your grant application. I justified thermal imaging in part as a way to comply with NFPA Standard 1500, Chapter 8. This standard covers equipment utilized by fire personnel that reduces the safety risk of the members during fire suppression and rescue operations.”
(For the full 2005 Jefferson Township Fire Department narrative, click here.)