Technical Rescue Funding

[shinnfire]

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to get started funding a Technical Rescue Team. My volunteer department has started training over the last year and now we are attempting to equip ourselves. Unfortunately we can barely afford our fire equipment and operating costs. Ordinarily an FD in Arkansas would get some funding from the state via the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, however due to a political machine that my monkey wrench wouldn't even slow down, Law Enforcement receives almost every penny alotted to my county. My department also prides its self on not panhandling and begging for money. Ideas?

[jmatthe2]

It has been very difficult for small city's to get their hands on DHS money. Most of the grants available now are based on a cities size and threatt assessment. You may want to pusure the FIRE Grant (http://www.firegrantsupport.com/) as it is more geared to individual municipalities. Any grant is extrememly competitive and you shouldn't get your hope up.

Before undertaking this task, you really should conduct your own hazard analysis and determine what types of rescue you need and to what level you need to be trained. Everyone wants a type 1 USAR team, but an ops level confined space team, for example, may be all the the jurisdiction needs.

Good luck! Many of us have been in your shoes and I wish you the best.

[shinnfire]

I've considered the AFG, however we are currently "frying bigger fish" with it.
Not my words. We have done somewhat of a threat assessment and in our eyes a VERY humble cache would serve us well. To give you a snapshot, approximately 4-5k dollars would cover our needs. As for the everyone wanting an End All Be All USAR cache....that's what my career department is going for. :)
Again thanks for the Support.

[Geinandputitout]

don't shoot the messenger. Trying to maintain a well equipped, well trained technical rescue team is very difficult as I am sure you are discovering. Unless your community is loaded with confined spaces and the like, I'd consider setting up an auto-aid agreement.

Assess each business that has a permit required confined space a small sum, for instance $500 for 10 or fewer spaces then $1000 for more than 10 spaces. Take this money, get your awareness or operations type training, and give the rest to a nearby already established rescue team.

Unless you are truly ready to committ, and have a steady funding source to replace monitors, rope, hard-ware, and are willing to constantly maintain SOP's like LOTO, Entry Permits it is not worth it.

I work in a heavyily industrialized midwestern town of 120,000. Counting our dispatch log there are at least 10 confined space entries every day of the year in our community, and we get maybe 2 "legit" technical rescue runs per year.

If you can strike an agreement with another team, you don't have to worry about maintaining the equipment, and you will meet your OSHA defined responsibilities.

[shinnfire]

*loads gun and takes aim at messenger...
I think we come from very different parts of the country. Confined Space is a non issue for us, I could explain but my fingers are already tired enough. Our needs are for low slope evacuations and swiftwater rescues. We see a couple of each every year. The fact that we have several personnel who are trained in these disciplines is somewhat wasted on the fact that we are not equipped for these type of incidents. Small town close to big towns= career guys using training from work at vollie dept. Catchin my drift? It's a strange ordeal, just be satisified that i need help with seeking funding. So just a reminder of the original point....Does anyone know of any grants other than AFG to receive funding for Technical equipment?

[RemptyP]

Is there a local Foundation or philanthropic group that gives money to groups? There is a foundation in my area that regularly gives money to fire departments, usually toward apparatus.

[rlewis]

Try the Tums First Responder Grant

firstresponder.org

They are currently looking for new sponsor and may not be taking apps at this time. Keep checking back.

My Dept. was on of the originals to get this grant, back then they gave us $10,000. Which was used to buy rescue equipment. They have cut back the amount they give to $2500, but it is still something.

Good Luck

[basslerga]

Don't overlook tacking this onto a AFG especially if no other Depts in your area are currently providing these services, interoperability & Regoinal response capibility are big draws for the folk who adminstrate these grants.

Also who are your customers? are they locals( fisherman, hunters, and others) or someother group which comes to your area. In the the White Mtns of NH the mountain rescue group solicites donations at local guide services and outdoor shops, there it is almost always outsiders coming to the mountains that need rescue. sometimes the local outtfitters even donate equipment since they know it is often their clinents we have to rescue.

My department struggled for years to maintain a basic water rescue capibility until the father of a drowning victim helped raise over $50000 for our swiftwater team. Good Luck and keep on plugging.

[BUITRE]

Maybe you would like to contact BUD CALKIN at SKEDCO. 1-800-770-SKED. He is a really kind man and usually helps in some way rescue teams who are looking for help. I am not saying that they will sponsor you guys but remember that any equipment you may get from IMPORTANT rescue companies is of great help. Specially when you your are on a task like this! Remember that sometimes is better to look for sponsors than wait for government action

KEEP SAFE!