The McMinnville Fire Department has received a $114,000 grant from FEMA as part of the Assistance to Firefighters Program.
Deputy Fire Chief Clint Walker said the department will use the grant to reduce the risk of long-term health problems for firefighters. Walker said one of the big-ticket items being purchased is a source capture exhaust system.
“When cold weather approaches, we check our apparatus off daily, and with that, when the apparatus are running inside, this system is going to capture that exhaust and vent it to the outside, trying to minimize the carbon monoxide levels,” Walker said.
Walker said the department will also purchase and install smoke and carbon monoxide alarm systems in both fire stations. Walker said he was glad to receive the grant to make the improvements to the fire stations.
“With what we learn from our past, we know our cancer rates are high in this line of work and we are trying to strive to do all that we can to protect our people so that not only can they serve a full career, but after they leave this line of work, that they still have a quality of life beyond their years of service,” Walker said.
Walker also said the grant will be used for National Fire Protection Association training.
“Our minimum standard to be able to work for the McMinnville Fire Department is we have to be at least certified to the level of fire two,” Walker said. “We have some of that money that is going to be set aside for continuing that training for new people that come in as we get them to that level.”
Being a training level of fire two makes the department in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association. Walker said the grant has been a game-changer for the department, as the systems and training are expensive.
