Sycamore Fire Department Awarded Federal Grant for Firefighter Protective Clothing

On Wednesday, May 27, the City of Sycamore was informed that the Sycamore Fire Department was awarded a federal grant in the amount of $35,620 for the purchase of sixteen sets (coat and pants) of structural firefighting protective clothing through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The AFG program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

The $35,620 grant to the Sycamore Fire Department will be used to purchase 16 sets of replacement structural firefighter protective clothing (coat and pants). This grant will allow the replacement of in service protective clothing that is over ten years old. Under current National Fire Protection Standards (NFPA), firefighting protective clothing must be replaced when the clothing reaches 10 years in age regardless of the clothing’s present condition.

The grant award of $35,620 covers 95% of the total estimated cost ($37,400) of the 16 sets of protective clothing. The City is responsible for the remaining 5% of the cost of the new clothing which will be approximately $1,780. Over the next month, the Fire Department will finalize the specifications for the new protective clothing and begin sizing personnel for the new gear.

The City of Sycamore is grateful for the support of Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Mark Kirk, and Congressman Randy Hultgren of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The FY 2014 Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) Funding has an appropriation of $306 million to support Fire and EMS Operations and Safety Grants, Firefighting and Emergency Vehicle Grants, and Fire Prevention and Safety Grants.