The Delbarton VFD made the following Facebook post recently:
Late in 2022, Delbarton Volunteer Fire Department members submitted a grant application for the AFG grant, which is sponsored by FEMA, requesting funding assistance for new turnout gear and radio equipment for all 28 members of our department. After many months of difficult waiting, we received word in August 2023 that our application was accepted and we were granted approximately $260,000 (including a 5% match) to purchase new turnout suits, new dual band radios, and new dual band pagers for our members.
On Jan. 7, 2024, our members gathered with members of the media to distribute our new turnout gear ensemble and complete our grant requirements.
The new gear was custom designed by a select group of members, who formed an internal committee to determine the needs of the department as a whole. After several demonstration meetings with various vendors and manufacturers, the gear committee awarded the contract to All American Fire Equipment in Ona, West Virginia for fulfillment.
The gear selected is as follows:
- Helmet: Bullard Light Weight Traditional
- Hood: Viking PartX Hood
- Jacket: Viking Warrior Turnout Coat
- Pants: Viking Warrior Turnout Pants
- Gloves: Firecraft Phoenix
- Boots: Rocky Code Red Structural Boots
The gear committee packaged these items together and was also able to secure additional technical rescue gear for all members as well as flashlights to be mounted on each fire helmet. Further details of the gear, including specific material information will be provided in the comment section of this post.
Additionally, part of the funding received was to be spent on new, Kenwood VP-8000 dual-band radios, and Unication G3 dual-band pagers, to be distributed out to each member of the department.
The radios are a massive step up in technology for our members, giving them access to push-to-talk digital communication with Mingo County 911 and the entire state of West Virginia. This is to say that in a highly unlikely situation, if needed, our members can stand outside our station door in the town of Delbarton, press the transmit button on the new radios, and communicate with the 911 center in Jefferson County in the eastern panhandle (approximately 260 miles straight line distance) with the same clarity as they could if they were standing next to each other via the SIRN (Statewide Interoperability Radio Network) Network. Delbarton VFD took delivery of 17 of these radios (one for every seated position on our six apparatus).
The pagers operate in the same way as the new radios. However, they do not have the ability to transmit like the radios do. The benefit of the radios and pagers being dual band is that if one radio system is down for some reason (maintenance, power failure, equipment failure, etc.) fire department units can still receive notifications of emergencies and be able to respond as needed. The dual band nature of the radios and pagers gives our department three methods of dispatch including the notifications we receive on our cell phones, which gives us points toward achieving a lower ISO score which will in turn will lower fire insurance rates.
There were many people involved in making this possible and we would like to take this time to thank a few groups that really made a difference.
First of all, a huge thank you to our grant writing team, without their hard work, this would not have been nearly as successful as it was.
Next, we would like to thank our board members, without them, this project would have never gotten off the ground. They were the ones who gave permission to chase this grant project and allowed our financial obligations to be fulfilled. This includes our secretary/treasurer, Billie Jo Endicott, who oversaw the financial proceedings and ensured that we were in compliance throughout the entire process.
Next, we would like to thank our gear committee. This group of eight members rose to the occasion and went above and beyond to develop a fantastic package of new equipment to outfit our firefighters for many years to come.
Next, we would like to thank All-American Fire Equipment and Viking Life Saving Equipment for delivering a fantastic product and service. It truly was a pleasure to work with these companies. They made this process exciting and fun for everyone involved.
Next, we would like to thank our membership. You volunteer your time for nothing in return to better your community in any way possible. You are the backbone of this department, without you nothing is possible. You are the reason we chased this opportunity as passionately as we have.
Finally, we would like to thank the community. If our members are the backbone of the department, our community is the heart and soul, the reason we exist. Your unwavering support throughout our 67 years of existence is the reason we press on, and continue to pursue excellence in everything that we do. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your continued support.
