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Print Application Page 7 of 13
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<br /> Operations and Firefighter Safety Program to pumhase the following personal protective equipment: 54 Self
<br /> Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), 64 spare cylinders, The addition of this important safety equipment will
<br /> allow us to provide equipment that is in total compliance to OSHA, NIOSH and NFPA standards, which in turn
<br /> will assist our efforts in better protecting our valued personnel and in serving the people of our community and
<br /> the surrounding area. For the last two years, the Paris Fire Department has been working toward a total
<br /> transition from the old BMR (Belt Mounted Regulator) style SCBA to the newer, more technologically-advanced
<br /> MMR (Mask Mounted Regulator) style of SCBA that meets NIOSH approval and the requirements of NFPA
<br /> 1981. W~th the ever-increasing risk of possible terrorist action within the United States and the associated
<br /> dangers to first responders, it is important that we provide our staff with SCBA equipment that has a high
<br /> resistance to chemical penetration and permeation and that is appropriate for use against CBRN agents.
<br /> However, procuring the necessary funds at the local level to complete such a transition has been impossible
<br /> given the economic strain of our area. That is why this grant is so important to us,
<br /> We average approximately 150 to 180 structure fires out of an average annual total call volume of 1550 to 1650
<br /> calls. Our SCBA experience heavy use as we service a city of 43.5 square miles with a population in excess of
<br /> 25,000. The city has a large concentration of older homes and structures, a large downtown square area with
<br /> old (1916-era) multi-story buildings, two major hospital facilities of five and seven stories, multiple hospital
<br /> service and medical aide buildings, seven nursing home facilities, six major industrial complexes, a large
<br /> ammonia nitrate and agriculture fertilizer facility, an agricultural chemical retailer and a host of other commercial
<br /> and light industrial businesses. Though the City of Paris has a formal Mutual Aide agreement with Lamar
<br /> County, in the event of a major disaster, the city would be and is the primary source of expertise, mitigation
<br /> equipment and staffing
<br /> The following table gives a visual representation of cities that are of comparable size to Paris and statistical
<br /> information in regards to population, fire department budget, number of personnel, number of total alarm
<br /> responses and number of structure fires during last fiscal year:
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<br /> Paris 25, 898 3,286.608 56 1615 179
<br /> Big Spring 25,233 3,700.000 64 249 48
<br /> Corsicana 24,600 3,531,632 59 266 105
<br /> Farmers Branch 27.900 6,178,700 64 3,596 23
<br /> Greenville 25,051 3,517,639 48 Unavailable
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<br /> Of the cities compared. Paris has the least budget and next to least number of personnel, but responded to the
<br /> most structure fires. This should help to validate the need for the SCBA The overall goal of this department is to
<br /> purchase sufficient SCBA with extra bottles so that we can efficiently equip 100 percent of our entire firefighting
<br /> staff, Currently, we are forced to equip only first-line personnel and keep other SCBA in reserve. We are a
<br /> smaller department with minimal staffing. Because the City of Paris is geographically isolated from any city and
<br /> fire department of comparable size we are forced to be seff-sufficient. On many occasions we have had to call in
<br /> additional staffing (from our off-duty ranks) to support suppression/mitigation efforts The ability to provide each
<br /> employee with his/her own NIOSH approved,SCBA would greatly increase the overall safety capabilities of this
<br /> department, expedite mitigation efforts, provide the necessary SCBA for use with Haz-Mat and CBRN incidents
<br /> and assist us in providing better service for our community and area
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<br /> Budget Activity Explanation
<br /> The City of Paris Fire Department will utilize the S271,978.00 in FEMA funding to purchase the following
<br /> personal protective equipment to efficiently equip 100 percent of our entire firefighting staff:
<br /> · 54 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
<br /> · 64 spare cylinders
<br /> We realize that the overall request of S271,978.00 represents an extensive amount of funding (if you say it real
<br /> fast it doesn't seem quite so bad though!) However, given the increased purchase price of new SCBA due to
<br /> the manufacturers' efforts at complying to mandated changes and enhancements as required by NFPA and
<br /> other regulator./agencies, the total number of packs needed and the total number of extra cylinders needed, we
<br /> truly feel that the request is warranted This extensive cost is the very reason we have not been able to
<br /> accompIish the wholesale transition to the newer and safer SCBA through the standard city budgetary process.
<br /> If we cannot procure this much needed grant, then this department will not be able to complete the wholesale
<br /> transition for several years as we try to replace the equipment a little at a time. Such action would force us to
<br /> utilize SCBA of at least two (2) different brands and types, which could greatly compromise personnel safety
<br /> The most important aspect of this request is that it will allow for a 100 percent - one time transition in which this
<br /> department can replace a!I our current SCBA with a new more technologically advanced model, We are
<br /> currently on course in our efforts to provide specialized training to our personnel to enhance our ability to
<br /> respond to and properly mitigate incidents related to WMD, CBRN and terrorist actions, and our total success
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<br />https://p~rta~.fema.g~v/firegran~(~sp/fire/print~app.jsp?print=true&app-number= 4/10/2003
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