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FAQ-Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety

What items are eligible for inclusion in the EMS Program?
Applicants can apply for training and equipment within the EMS Program Activity. Applicants requesting in the EMS Program may also apply for assistance in the Wellness and Fitness activity. Ambulance vehicles are not eligible within this program area. All vehicles, regardless of function, must be requested in the Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Program.

Is technical rescue equipment and training eligible?
Technical rescue equipment and training should be applied for in the Firefighting Operations and Firefighter Safety Program Area.

Is training and equipment for terrorist attacks and WMD eligible for funding?
Training and equipment for terrorist attacks and WMD events are eligible. However, the intent of this program is to provide for the basic needs of local fire departments and funding for terrorist attacks and WMD is available from other sources. Therefore, requests for such activities, while eligible, will receive a lower priority than requests for basic firefighter training and equipment.

What is "indirect delivery" training?
Indirect delivery would include training received at facilities outside the applicant's jurisdiction.

What is "direct delivery" training?
Direct delivery of training is conducted within an organization's own jurisdiction using the organization's own resources (trainers, facilities, equipment, etc.) or individualized instruction obtained through media such as CD-ROMs, satellite TV broadcasts, or via the Internet.

What is the definition of a RIT?
A Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) is a specialized team consisting of a minimum of two members assigned to stand by at incidents where firefighters are called upon to work within an IDLH (Immediate Danger to Life and Health) atmosphere. The team must be fully equipped with the proper protective clothing, SCBA, and tools needed to enter the atmosphere and rescue lost or trapped firefighters. A RIT team may not be assigned to any other duty or function while serving in a RIT capacity.

What are the priorities for PASS devices?
FEMA will give priority to applications with integrated PASS devices over applications with non-integrated PASS devices.

Will stand-alone PASS devices that comply with the automatic activation feature that satisfies the provisions of NFPA Standard 1982, 1998 Edition be eligible for consideration for a grant award?
Any PASS device that is NFPA compliant is eligible. However, integrated or "automatic" PASS devices will be rated higher than PASS devices, which must be manually actuated.

Are thermal imaging cameras considered basic firefighting equipment?
While we can make the case that thermal imaging cameras are necessary for basic firefighting capabilities, there are no trade standards, or federal regulations requiring that firefighters have thermal imagers with them while engaged in firefighting activities. Applicants requesting thermal imagers must indicate that these devices have no statutory basis.

Can we request funding assistance to erect a tower to install the repeater included in our request for assistance?
No. The program will only provide funding assistance for communications equipment (radios, CAD system equipment, antennas, etc.). No construction will be funded.

Will preference be given to those who applied for fire grants last year and didn't receive them?
No. This grant year process will view all applications as new grant proposals, requiring the applicants to demonstrate financial need, cost benefit, and a project that closely matches the grant priorities. Prior awards may affect an applicant's ability to demonstrate financial need. We will let the peer review panelists determine what affect prior years' awards have on a current application.

If my department has not offered periodic health screenings for many years, must we request funding assistance to provide existing members a health screens in order to qualify for funding assistance in providing fitness equipment?
Yes. Fire departments must offer entry physicals, an immunization program, and offer periodic screenings at least during the period of performance (twelve months after the award date).

When requesting breathing apparatus, how many SCBA's should I request for our firefighters?
The number of breathing apparatus for entry into environments immediately dangerous to life or health is directly linked to the number of firefighters who are trained and certified to conduct fire suppression or entry operations. Firefighters who are not trained and certified to conduct operations in these environments should not be issued breathing apparatus. For many departments, this equates to the number of firefighters that they could reasonably expect to show up at an event, i.e. the shift on duty.

I noticed that the application drop-down menu lists "hydraulic tools." Are electric tools eligible?
Yes. All extrication tools are eligible. You could include electric tools under "other."