Sycamore Fire Department awarded a federal grant for a mobile fire training prop, breathing air compressor /fill station/ cascade system, and replacement fire hose

On Friday, August 11, the City of Sycamore was informed that the Sycamore Fire Department was awarded a federal grant in the amount of $135,228 for the purchase of a mobile fire training prop, a breathing air compressor/fill station/cascade system, and replacement fire hose 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 mobile training prop will be a new fire training adjunct for Fire Department in house fire training. The mobile training prop has a 12’ x 20’ roofing platform mounted on a 23’ trailer it also includes forcible entry door props and overhead door cutting station. This prop allows for valuable hands on training for on duty fire personnel at the fire station.
• The breathing air compressor/fill station/cascade system replaces a current 20 year old unit. The breathing air compressor supplies all of the breathing air for the firefighter’s self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) on all emergency response vehicles.
• The replacement fire hose replaces attack fire hose that is over 20 years old and supply hose that is over 14 years old. Both attack and supply hose is carried on all fire engines along with a modest reserve supply in each fire station for replacement after a fire response.

The grant award of $135,228 covers 95% of the total estimated cost ($141,989) of the mobile fire training prop, a breathing air compressor/fill station/cascade system, and replacement fire hose. The City is responsible for the remaining 5% of the cost of the grant which will be approximately $6,761.

The City of Sycamore is grateful for the support of Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and Congressman Randy Hultgren of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The FY 2016 Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) Funding had an appropriation of $310 million with a projection of 2,500 awards.