By Lacie Morrison
lmorrison@mineralwellsindex.com

MILLSAP – Thanks to a grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Millsap Volunteer Fire Department has secured 95 percent of the funding needed for the latest addition to their fleet.

MVFD was awarded $230,280 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program out of approximately $485 million, which is distributed nationwide to roughly 4,500 fire-related organizations.

The grant was awarded through the Department of Homeland Security’s AFG program which provides “resources for local fire departments and emergency medical services programs to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs and buy equipment and response vehicles,” stated a press release.

MVFD’s Assistant Chief Jeff Edwards said the grant request was written for $242,400, slightly higher than what they received. The funds are going towards the purchase of a Pierce Compressed Air Foam System pumper truck, a first for both Parker and Palo Pinto counties.

He explained that the CAFS is a relatively new system which pumps air into the water, increasing the amount of fire they are able to fight.

According to the Pierce Manufacturing Web site, the systems “are simply high-energy foam generators.” Among the benefits to firefighters, the site lists a 50 percent lighter hose, reduction in rekindling of fires and conservation of water, among other things.

“The use of CAFS will greatly improve our ability to provide fire protection in areas where there is not a good water supply. CAFS is a new tool that has greatly improved fire protection and this truck will be one of the first in this area,” Edwards said.

“This is something we never could have purchase without this grant. … It covers 95 percent of the cost,” he said, adding that the department’s cost is $12,120. “That’s a pretty good deal.”

This wasn’t the first time for the department to apply for funding through the grant program.

“We’ve been filling that grant out for several years. This is the first time we’ve been successful,” Edwards said. He explained that it is one of the largest grant programs available to them and this award is one of the largest within the last three or four years.

The MVFD anticipates taking possession of the new pumper truck within the first couple of months in 2007. Edwards explained that it will replace their oldest fire truck in the fleet, a 1968 model that was taken out of service.

Once the 1968 model is sold, he said their oldest vehicle will be a 1996 model. Edwards explained that through grants from different entities, they’ve been able to update the smaller vehicles.

“Everybody’s excited,” Edwards said. “It’ll be a major thing [for the department].”

More than 18,000 applicants totaling almost $2.5 billion in requests were submitted for the grant program’s 2006 fiscal year. Since 2001, more than $2.4 billion in funding has been provided to fire departments and first responder organizations through the grant program.

“The Assistance to Firefighters Grants program has been instrumental in building capacity and has provided needed resources for our nation’s firefighters,” said Under Secretary for Preparedness George Foresman. “From the purchase of equipment to first responder training, the AFG program has had an immensely positive impact on fire-related initiatives which has directly resulted in saving lives and property in communities throughout the United States.”

Edwards agreed the program had a positive impact on fire departments and first responders.

“This program through the [U.S. Department of Homeland Security] has really been a blessing to a lot of departments.”