FEMA Director Presents Firefighting Equipment Grant 

Release Date: July 29, 2002
Release Number: HQ-02-124a

Denver, CO -- In a special ceremony Tuesday, July 30, Joe M. Allbaugh, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will present the Pitkin Volunteer Fire Department with a $117,000 grant for improved firefighting equipment.

The FEMA grant will be used to purchase a four-wheel drive fire truck to improve the department's wildland firefighting capability. Pitkin's current equipment is not well suited for a quick initial fire attack in steep terrains. The new vehicle will be smaller, more versatile, and better able to handle a quick fire attack, especially in remote areas. An estimated 400 residences are located in and around Pitkin, which is nestled in the Gunnison National Forest.

"Right now, we have one four-wheel drive pumper that would take us an hour to get eight-to-10 miles up the road because of the steepness and rugged terrain," said Fire Chief Jim Truitt. "With something like this, we can actually get there in 30 minutes or less."

Pitkin is one of 10 Colorado fire departments that have been awarded grants in the past four weeks as part of FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The program is intended to help rural, urban, and suburban fire departments better protect their communities by improving their equipment and capabilities in a number of key areas.

The grants can be used to help departments increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, for firefighter health and safety programs, EMS programs, fire prevention and safety programs, and to purchase new vehicles.

For Pitkin, the money will make a world of difference, Truitt said.

"This is something that we have been dreaming about for our department for a long time," he added. "It would take us 20 years to raise enough money to buy a truck."

Nationwide, more than 19,000 fire departments competed for part of a $360-million appropriation for the program administered by FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration. From that group, 5,500 applications were chosen for funding. Those grants will be awarded from now through the end of the year.

"As recent history has shown us, this nation's fire departments are the first responders into almost every emergency," said Allbaugh. "Through this award program, President Bush has provided FEMA the opportunity to significantly improve the safety of these men and women, and the fire and EMS services they provide to Americans."

Last Modified: Friday, 25-Jul-2003 10:51:24