Fire chiefs pursue grants to improve communication

More fire departments are expected to join the countywide planning effort.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- Fire chiefs from about half the departments in Trumbull County are working on a grant application to be used to improve countywide communications.
Liberty Fire Chief Michael Durkin said the departments will seek between $500,000 and $1 million from a government agency such as the Department of Homeland Security.
"It's difficult for each department to get a grant," Durkin said, noting the cooperating grant application will be filed in 2005.
Howland Fire Chief George Brown said 15 of the 32 departments in the county have been meeting to develop the grant.
"I think once the plan gets together, some of the others will join," Brown said, noting the grant effort is in its early stages.
Durkin explained the money is needed to buy equipment to boost power output at dispatching centers and to increase radio tower space, especially in the county's northern section.
Some departments receive $50,000 to $100,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but it's not enough to improve countywide communications.
Fire chiefs have been meeting every other Thursday to iron out what is needed to make the improvements.
Problems
One of the problems that needs to be addressed, Brown explained, is that several departments transmit on different frequencies.
As a result, he pointed out, firefighters from one department can't communicate with those of other department when several are called to an emergency scene.
The communications infrastructure needs to be upgraded, Brown said. A consultant will be hired to determine if towers should be constructed or if tower space should be rented such as is done at the Trumbull County 911 Center.
Another problem that needs a resolution, the Brown explained, is the need for wireless, or radio, links between dispatching centers and towers.
Telephone lines are currently used. Service is hampered when there an interruption in telephone service.
Brown said another issue is that firefighters should be able to switch to a secondary radio frequency after arriving at an emergency.
At the scene, firefighters could switch to a designated frequency so other departments can be notified that help is needed. This would reduce response time of other departments when a call for additional aid is made, Brown added.
yovich@vindy.com