The AFG Program provides funds for supplemental training, upgrades to protective equipment, facility modifications and other supplies that protect firefighters and fire-responders in moments of crisis.
“This grant allows the Fire Division to purchase and update essential, life-saving equipment that our firefighters and EMS staff utilize in their work on a day-to-day basis,” said Springfield Fire Rescue Division Chief Brian Miller.
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Items the grant will fund include 75 portable radios, charges and batteries, 15 dual-head mobile radios, 30 remote-mount mobile radios for staff and support vehicles, seven control station radios and 66 headsets and all associated installation fees.
Miller said that every year all fire departments across the country are eligible to apply for the AFG grant money. Last year, Springfield Fire and Rescue decided to apply for the grant after the city made the decision to upgrade their radios.
“The average range for radios is about 10 to 12 years and ours were going on about 18,” Miller said.
While the fire rescue division has not yet officially received the grant money, a majority of the items the grant will fund have already been purchased, Miller said.
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In early March, the city of Springfield purchased more than 400 new Motorola radios for law enforcement, fire and public works employees for emergency call-handling, command and control and land mobile radio communications.
The new radios and system allow for police, fire and rescue from different jurisdictions to communicate on one channel.
“Once we receive the grant money it will be more of a reimbursement,” Miller said. “Then we can look at what else we can get additionally with the money, like more batteries or chargers.”
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