Wouldn't it be a shame to fight for government funds, get a $65 million appropriation and use only half of it?

Whether you're a proponent of NFPA 1710 or NFPA 1720, the grant could help add a paid person to your department or supply new incentives for volunteer recruitment and retention.

The goal of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants is to help fire departments enhance their ability to attain 24-hour staffing and consequently, assure their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. SAFER currently has $65 million in funding available for this year. Using the same model and administration procedures as the FIRE Grant program, the U.S. Fire Administration has until 5 p.m. EST June 28 to accept applications for SAFER Grants.

Out of 2,800 queries or started applications, only 400 have been completed and submitted! Whoa! What's the problem? Does your department need money for additional firefighters or recruiting and retention of volunteers?

Fire Chief Fred Windisch, Ponderosa Volunteer Fire Department, Harris County, Texas, has applied. "In a combination system like we are, where we're in a high-growth area, we're losing volunteers. The SAFER Grant makes it more affordable to supplement our volunteer forces," said Windisch.

The PVFD has had one full-time firefighter and a part-time paid program for over 12 years. PVFD is near Houston -- one of the highest terrorist-threat regions in the nation due to the petrochemical industries and the port system -- and has a major interstate highway that is a primary route for hazardous materials produced in the Houston Ship Channel area. Rail lines on the eastern boundary and feeders to multiple transportation routes all demand the fire service to be prepared for all hazards.

Windisch has creative recruitment and retention programs, but maturing volunteers, the trend to do less volunteer work, single-parent homes and the increasing demands of fire service performance requirements on firefighters has caused a decrease in PVFD's volunteer force.

Check out the tutorial to prepare an application at www.firegrantsupport.com. Remember, the deadline is June 28. Unused allocated money sends the wrong message to Congress.

Janet Wilmoth, Editor