| 02/16/2005 | | Homeland Security grant to fund fireboat | | By: Dorrance Johnson , Staff Correspondent |
BRANFORD - For the second time in the past three years, the Branford Fire Department has received approval for a substantial grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that will be specifically earmarked for the purchase of firefighting equipment.
According to Fire Chief Jack Ahern, this year's grant in the amount of $202,500 will be used to purchase a new fast-attack fireboat that will serve Branford's costal waterways and the many tributaries that comprise the fire department's primary area of responsibility.
In August of 2003, the fire department received a similar grant in the amount of $373,000 that was used to upgrade their antiquated radio system, in keeping with the federal agency's goal to improve fire service communications nationwide in the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedy, during which many communications shortcomings were discovered.
"We are very happy that local taxpayers will benefit from this grant," said Ahern. He explained that the new 30-foot long aluminum hull vessel will be equipped with a 2,000 gallon-per-minute fire pump, an array of emergency medical equipment along with the latest in marine electronics including radar and a global positioning system.
According to Ahern, the overall grant actually totals $225,000 and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires that taxpayers shoulder $22,500, or 10 percent, of the financial burden in order to qualify for the funding.
He also noted that FEMA rates fireboats based on their firefighting capability and that any such vessel equipped with a 2,000 gallon-per-minute firefighting water pump is classified by FEMA as an actual class-3 fireboat. As such, the new boat will be the only actual fireboat in service along the shoreline from Clinton to Milford since fireboats with a lesser pumping capacity are not rated or classified as fireboats under federal guidelines.
Expanding on the particulars that will distinguish the new boat from vessels that are currently in use by other fire or police departments in the area Ahern said, "We plan on equipping our boat with a patient-transport area, the latest in emergency medical equipment and supplies including a semi-automatic defibrillator, spinal immobilization equipment, an oxygen delivery system."
As an eye-opener, he also noted that the Branford shoreline is dotted with a total of 365 islands and that 32 of those islands, most of which are located in the Thimble Islands, are inhabited throughout the summer months.
Ahern also explained that a total of 269 structures are located various islands and that they have a combined total value of more than $45 million, calling attention to the need to provide fire protection and emergency medical services to those properties, as well as to the 15 local marinas, in which a combined total of 1,600 boat slips are located.
Although the exact deployment of the new fireboat has not yet been determined, Ahern praised the efforts of the highly decorated and well-seasoned "Marine-5" fireboat crew of Stony Creek's Rescue Fire Company 5 that has been providing fire protection and rescue services in Branford for decades and who also assisted in providing many of the specifications for the new boat.
He also applauded the efforts of Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-3), who spearheaded the effort to secure the federal funds under a law that was penned by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) that provides money to municipalities in order to enhance public safety.
Commenting on the new boat that is anticipated to become available within the year DeLauro said, "Our first responders need up-to-date equipment and training so that they can continue their work protecting our communities and saving lives." She also credited the Branford Fire Department for being awarded what she described as a "competitive" grant.
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