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Firefighters are saving lives by protecting their own
Fire departments use grant money to supplement their budgets and buy the gear needed to continue saving lives while protecting their own.
Several fire departments were awarded grants to purchase new fire equipment through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security.
Departments in Austintown, Youngstown, Howland, Liberty and Warren received grants of $71,593, $372,013, $133,572, $33,334 and $21,847, respectively.
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, said in a news release that the federal money that goes toward AFG grants enhances fire prevention and overall safety of first responders.
“There are few things more important than supporting services that help protect the lives of our families and friends, and as a result, I always offer my support to grants of this nature,” Ryan said.
Howland Fire Chief James Pantalone said the grants are helping to supplement local fire departments’ budgets since they lost money from Ohio’s tangible personal-property tax.
“We are so strapped – our funds go directly into operation – and the [AFG] funds help us maintain some capital-improvement dollars and keep us up to speed,” he said.
Pantalone estimated Howland has taken a $100,000 hit in the fire department budget alone because of the cuts.
“The money we save our city by qualifying is tremendous,” said Warren Assistant Fire Chief Bill Monrean. “I don’t know how we would be able to afford the items we get without the federal grants. ... If you’re not taking advantage of the grants, you’re falling behind.”
Pantalone said capital-improvement budgets are almost nonexistent because operating costs use most of the decreased money left.
“Without the grants, I don’t know how a city like ours would keep up with the purchases we need to make,” said Youngstown Fire Chief John O’Neill.
Austintown Fire Chief Andrew R. Frost III said his department’s grant is going toward turnout gear – 20 sets of fire pants, coats, gloves and helmets – as well as new breathing equipment and face pieces made to withstand higher temperatures.
“We are very fortunate for it, and it made our guys much, much safer,” Frost said. “We are able to make purchases immediately, and we are going at it next week.”
Pantalone and O’Neill said they both will be using their grant money for airpacks.
“The current packs we use are over 10 years old and the industry has upgraded twice, and it has become very hard to repair and get parts for now,” O’Neill said.
Monrean said Warren will be using its grant money for a new washer and dryer specifically made for turnout gear.
Warren also is a repeat grant user. Its last three firetrucks, each costing more than $700,000, were purchased with AFG money.
Both Frost and O’Neill said they believe they have received well over $2 million in AFG grants.
In the past, Howland received a $68,000 health and wellness grant from AFG to offset costs for physicals for firefighters and to purchase workout equipment to keep them in shape.
Because AFG grants are competitive and based on need, O’Neill said he hopes the Youngstown Fire Department’s high use of equipment gives them an edge on the competition.