Bellefontaine City Council members adopted three ordinances on first and final readings Tuesday, clearing the way to spend more than $190,000 in federal money to help provide clean breathing air to firefighters and to seek another $200,000 for next year.
Fire Chief Andy Fissel told the Finance Committee the first ordinance would allow his department to quickly order a new air fill station and 25 breathing apparatus systems firefighters use while fighting fires.
The current packs are 13 years old and the air station is about 30 years old. It does not efficiently reach pressure standards required to fill the new packs and repairs are becoming too frequent.
A second ordinance will allow the department to make the application deadline for this year grants requests, Fissel said. If awarded, the money will be available next year.
The department hopes to use the money to replace hoses, nozzles and related equipment.
Ohio First Responders Grants LLC wrote the first and will the second.
The third ordinance will hire the company to monitor use of the awarded grants and ensure the proper paperwork is filed with the federal government.
Money for the grants flows through U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants program.
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