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Study calls for elimination of fire grants
WASHINGTON — A new report is calling for AFG and SAFER funding to be eliminated.
The study by the Center for Data Analysis claims the grants have failed to better protect firefighters and civilians, and urges Congress to scrap the programs.
Read the full article at:
http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-grants-help/articles/506149-Study-c...
Whilst I'm not from the USA and am not privvy to the full ins and outs of these grant programs, I do beleive that any grant program needs to be properly monitored and have very clear guidelines in place for the use of the money awarded.
A quick quote from the article caught my eye, "Billy Goldfeder, writing in FirefighterCloseCalls' The SecretList, said it is clear that AFG and SAFER program funding has lead to safer firefighting and citizens being better served.
"We don't need any funding or months of WTF research to prove it," he said. "Simply put, if SAFER funding can provide additional firefighters on a first alarm assignment, we are absolutely able to get water on the fire and save the stuff or the people inside that much quicker. "
Whilst I agree with the sentiments of Chief BG, it has been hotly debated on this (FFN) site that grants should not be used for increasing staffing levels, andf I agree with this. There will come a time that the money runs out and we're left with big issues, particularly in tighter economic times.
The community is left with two options- 1) increase pressure (taxes?) on the community to wear the added expense, or; 2) cut staff numbers back to what they used to be. (Layoff staff in other words)
As fire department members and leaders, I also beleive that we need to be careful in what we submit for- we need to look very carefully at want vs need and also consider what our community risks are.
It will be interesting to see where this one goes...
The study by the Center for Data Analysis claims the grants have failed to better protect firefighters and civilians, and urges Congress to scrap the programs.
Read the full article at:
http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-grants-help/articles/506149-Study-c...
Whilst I'm not from the USA and am not privvy to the full ins and outs of these grant programs, I do beleive that any grant program needs to be properly monitored and have very clear guidelines in place for the use of the money awarded.
A quick quote from the article caught my eye, "Billy Goldfeder, writing in FirefighterCloseCalls' The SecretList, said it is clear that AFG and SAFER program funding has lead to safer firefighting and citizens being better served.
"We don't need any funding or months of WTF research to prove it," he said. "Simply put, if SAFER funding can provide additional firefighters on a first alarm assignment, we are absolutely able to get water on the fire and save the stuff or the people inside that much quicker. "
Whilst I agree with the sentiments of Chief BG, it has been hotly debated on this (FFN) site that grants should not be used for increasing staffing levels, andf I agree with this. There will come a time that the money runs out and we're left with big issues, particularly in tighter economic times.
The community is left with two options- 1) increase pressure (taxes?) on the community to wear the added expense, or; 2) cut staff numbers back to what they used to be. (Layoff staff in other words)
As fire department members and leaders, I also beleive that we need to be careful in what we submit for- we need to look very carefully at want vs need and also consider what our community risks are.
It will be interesting to see where this one goes...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Sees on
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I don't think that grant money should be used for staffing. But I hope that the programs that allow the purchasing of equipment will continue. One company that I run with used a grant to help purchase a new engine and the other company that I run with used a grant to purchase a new tanker. In both cases the grant program helped purchase much needed equipment. It seems that the funding for the Center for Data Analysis (who ever they are) would be a good funding program to cut.
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Permalink Reply by CHRIS PUYLARA on
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I THINK THAT THE SAFER GRANT IS GOOD.....WE NEED TO HIRE MORE.......MAYBE MAKE IT A 50/50 GRANT WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO APPLY. THE BIGGEST QUESTION I HAVE THOUGH..... IS ONCE YOU GET A SAFER GRANT FOR MORE FF'S......WHO PAYS THE SALARIES AFTER THE MONEY RUNS OUT? EVENTUALLY SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY FOR THE ADDED STAFF. GRANTS FOR MORE EQUIPMENT/TRAINING ARE NEEDED...IN OUR AREA THOUGH IF YOU GET ANY KIND OF A GRANT.....THEY TAKE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU GOT FROM THE GRANT OUT OF YOUR BUDGET THE NEXT YEAR. IT IS SAD THAT IN THESE TIMES THAT FF'S ALWAYS TAKE THE HIT AT BUDGET TIME...THE POLICE USUALLY DONT TAKE THE HITS LIKE WE DO.....STAY SAFE......CHRIS
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Permalink Reply by Harold Richard Hair on
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i am a all vol. company and grants help us out alot with out them i would be wearing some really crappy gear instead of okay gear, my newest truck is a 2004 and the 2nd newest is a 89. We need grants for gear and tools, they should not be used to hire firefighters
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