F.F.A.M.

Antonia FPD Puts Grant Funds to Good Use

Antonia-FireVentTrailerOpen-copyThe Antonia Fire Protection District is fortunate to receive grant funds for rescue tools, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and a ventilation training trailer. Antonia FPD is much like many other fire departments across Missouri; we need every penny we can get to sustain or improve our operation. We provide fire prevention, fire suppression, and rescue service to a bedroom community of thirty-six square miles of central Jefferson County, Missouri. Located just twenty-five miles south of St. Louis, Missouri, we furnish service to all or part of the rapidly growing communities of Antonia, Barnhart, Imperial, Otto, and Seckman area residents and businesses. The district operates three fire stations with a staff of nineteen paid personnel and thirty volunteers. Grant funds are an important ingredient to meeting the needs of our community.

With the award of a FEMA Grant we were able to outfit three rescue/pumpers with complete sets of Holmatro hydraulic rescue tools, Holmatro v-strut vehicle stabilizers, Turtle Tile cribbing kits, and accessories for $87,564.00. These tools are lightweight but strong and meet today’s new car technology requirements.

With the sale of Jefferson Memorial Regional Medical Center to Mercy Health Systems a charitable foundation was formed known as the Jefferson Memorial Community Foundation. We were fortunate to be a recipient of a grant in the amount of $9,991.26 to purchase 5 new AEDs and an AED trainer. All of our front line vehicles are now equipped with lifesaving AEDs.

A new addition to our training equipment and props is a 24’ FireVent mobile ventilation training trailer. We received a FEMA Grant of $50,536.00 for training and education. This ventilation training prop has a hydraulically operated 12’ x 24’ roofing platform with an expandable attic space. Firefighters can safely practice roof ventilation techniques in a controlled environment.

If your organization is not applying for grants, they should be! The money is out there for the taking, get you some. Take a grant writing class or attend one of the FEMA grant writing workshops to improve your grant writing skills. Read the grant guidance carefully, do your research, make sure you are eligible for the grant, write your narrative in a Word format, review and edit narrative for size and content, complete and submit application days before deadline. Grant writing takes time and energy without a guaranteed outcome. However, there is not a more rewarding feeling you will get than when you receive a grant for your organization.

Customer service is important to all personnel of the Antonia Fire Protection District and all are committed to delivering the highest level of fire and rescue services possible to our citizens. Grants are but one way we fund improvements for our organization; thusly, improving our service delivery. The addition of new rescue tools, AEDs, and a ventilation training trailer all greatly improve our customer service. We are always looking to improve our overall effectiveness through more efficient practices, better technology, and top of the line equipment. Our personnel know the value of grant awards and are engaged in the grant process, research, and evaluation. I am proud to serve as the fire chief of this outstanding group of people.