The Houston Fire Department (HFD) requests City Council to approve an ordinance authorizing the application for and acceptance of award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) FY 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in the amount of $999,551.00 with no cash match for a total program cost of $999,551.00. The anticipated project period is to begin September 5, 2021 and end September 4, 2023.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
For the 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), HFD proposes two projects; Vehicle Exhaust Extraction System project and Blue Card Incident Command training program.
Previously HFD was awarded the 2017, 2018 and 2019. The AFG grant has installed vehicle exhaust removal systems in our 71 busiest fire stations. HFD is now requesting $382,800.00 to install vehicle exhaust removal systems at 5 additional fire stations. These fire stations house multiple emergency response vehicles which release toxic fumes throughout the day. These stations are staffed on 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year basis. Installation of vehicle exhaust systems is expected to improve air quality at those stations.
Previously, HFD secured funding from the 2017, 2018 and 2019 AFG grant to certify every officer, 650 Engineer Operators ("EOs,") Incident Command Technician in the Blue Card Program. The intent of this program is to address multiple core competencies identified in the National Preparedness Goal through the introduction of the Blue Card Hazard Zone Incident Command Training and Certification Program (Blue Card). The Blue Card program enables HFD to improve upon issues related to fire management and suppression, threat and hazard identification, operational coordination, and operational communication. As HFD implemented the training and certification process, the need to include all of our EOs became apparent, as EOs are capable of functioning as an officer for HFD. Therefore, HFD is now seeking $616,751.00 to continue the Blue Card training for 175 EOs and recently promoted officers' renewals. The Houston Fire Department also requests City Council to authorize the Fire Chief or his designee to act as the City's representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept, and expend the grant funds as awarded, and apply for, accept, and expend all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval as to form of the City Attorney in connection with the grant not to exceed five years.
Fiscal Note:
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items
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Samuel Peña, Fire Chief
Houston Fire Department