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Fire division gets $220K grant
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Posted on Aug 31 2005
The Department of Public Safety’s Fire Division on Saipan received last week a $220,000 grant from the U.S. Fire Administration of the Department of Homeland Security.
Acting Fire director Francis S. Taimanao confirmed the award yesterday when he received the award letter from the DHS-USFA. The grant is being provided under the Assistance for Fire Fighters Grant Program for fiscal year 2005.
Taimanao prepared and submitted the grant application in April this year.
He said the application is intended for the acquisition of an additional fire fighting vehicle to address the fire divisions’ fleet shortfalls.
“Fortunately, we convinced the reviewing panel of our need and situation and approved the grant application to purchase a 3,000 to 3,500 gallon capacity Tanker-Pumper unit combination,” said Taimanao.
Presently, the department is working with various vendors in the states of Pennsylvania and Florida to start designing a feasible unit for the Commonwealth, he said, adding that one of the design requirements is for the tanker unit to have 1,250 GPM capability, with appropriate discharges to include an 18-inch deck gun discharge on top of the vehicle for greater pressure and reach of fire streams.
Taimanao said that this procurement would not only add to the division’s current fleet but will also expand the department’s fire protection coverage within the community so that they will be able to provide a voluminous water supply whenever a fire incident occurs.
He thanked the CNMI’s fire fighters for working with what the department has in its inventory, despite the shortfall in vehicles and fire fighting equipment. He said a grant or an award like this would help them enhance their services to the community.
