During the last 10 days, I've seen three interesting news stories about national efforts to help America's fire departments with more money, more firefighters and less liability.

First, last week's FIRE Grant awards. Was it just coincidence that the number of grants awarded the day before the Sept. 11th anniversary, 343, corresponded exactly with the number of firefighters who died that day?

The second story involved the U.S. Senate's passage of a fiscal year 2005 Department of Homeland Security funding bill, including an appropriation for funding the SAFER Act, a new federal grant program designed to help put some 75,000 more firefighters in departments across the country. That appropriation bill now will have to be reconciled with the House version in committee, but funding next year for the program looks promising.

The third story was about legislation the House of Representatives passed to benefit fire departments in need of equipment and gear. H.R. 1787, the Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act, would limit liability to companies and fire departments that donate used equipment to fire departments. Every year, fire departments discard or destroy used equipment and gear that could be passed on to needy departments but aren't because of possible liabilities.

H.R. 1787 is modeled after laws passed in seven states. In Texas alone, more than $13 million worth of equipment has been distributed to departments in need. A Senate version of the bill (S. 2793) was introduced Monday.

This week, I received a note from my favorite common-sense fire chief. This septuagenarian frequently sends handwritten notes to thump or prod me to look at certain topics. This week's note was about a newspaper report that the U.S. government was sending new fire trucks to Iraq. "When we [the U.S. military] finally pull out, they'll leave all those nice new trucks over there," said the chief. "What about the fire departments that are desperate for fire trucks here in this country?"

Interesting. We read annual reports of the busiest fire stations in the country. We also receive lots of notices of volunteer fire departments holding fund-raising efforts by raffling motorcycles or other items. Has anyone ever identified the 100 fire departments most in need in America? I'll never forget how a fire chief in Florida told me how his department converted a golf cart into a brush truck.

All the NFPA standards in the world aren't worth much to a small town that doesn't have a fire truck or means to pump water. OSHA can demand safety precautions from here to tomorrow, but there's a difference between working as a paid firefighter in a municipal department and helping your neighbors put out their barn fire. Firefighters will be there in shirtsleeves and gym shoes. Is it proper? No! Does it happen? Yes! In a perfect world, every fire department would have a NFPA 1901-compliant fire truck (paid for by the taxpayers) and personal protective equipment that meets all the necessary standards.

Every time we run an article about turnout gear being shipped to a needy foreign fire department, we get letters saying "What about the U.S.?"

What's my point?

How would we identify the 100 most needy fire departments in America? OK, there are probably 20 times that many departments that need the basics. What are the basic needs to start a fire department? A vehicle to squirt water? Tools to contain or extricate? Protective clothing from head to toe?

What if there was a list that a department could call and say, "We've got five bunker coats we don't need anymore. Who could use these coats?" One organization, Helping Our Own, is trying to do just that. (See the October issue of Fire Chief for more on that effort.)

Is it safe to pass on this used equipment that is not up to current standard? Probably not. Is it better than not having any turnout coat? Probably yes. Will this work against the manufacturers? I don't think so. I'd be willing to bet that if you received a used turnout coat, there would be a sense of gratitude to the manufacturer of that coat. It just fits with the tradition/appreciation thing the fire service is all about.

A while back, we had a certain number of training books to distribute to the first fire departments that responded to a contest. Two months later, I was still receiving e-mails from fire departments describing their need -- and inability to buy -- very basic training manuals.

If there were a list of the 100 fire departments most in need, would it make a difference?

"When I think of the volunteer fire departments, it's the guys with one fire station and a truck that they weld on hinges themselves, and I have nothing but the most admiration for them," says Charles Wiltrout of Butler (Ohio) Township Fire Department.

Admiration is honorable, but the Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act might be a real start to improving safety in many grassroots fire departments.

Janet Wilmoth, Editor