For Immediate Release:

September 28, 2021

Contact:

Julie Happy

Community Affairs Manager

Spokane Valley Fire Department

509.892.4155

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SPOKANE VALLEY FIRE AWARDED FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY GRANT

GRANT MONEY WILL HELP PROTECT CITIZENS FROM POTENTIAL FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY RISKS

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Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) has been awarded a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant in the amount of $61,762.  SVFD will enhance its comprehensive Home Fire Safety Visit program and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) program with these grant dollars.  The FEMA FP&S grant program aims to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards by assisting fire prevention programs and supporting firefighter health and safety research and development.

“The goal is to create safer homes for residents and their neighbors and provide safer environments for our first responders,” said SVFD Fire Chief, Bryan Collins. “We will reduce the risk of fire injuries and fatalities with the installation of thermal fuses and firebreaks.  We will reduce the time to EMS care and cost associated with forcible entry by installing residential lockboxes.”

Thermal fuses or firebreak devices will be provided to individuals on in home (medical) oxygen to help reduce fire fatality and burn risks.  The thermal fuse can isolate the oxygen flow and extinguish a fire tracking back along with the oxygen delivery tubing. These devices are installed directly in the oxygen delivery circuit and at the interface with the oxygen supply, delivery equipment.

“This grant will allow us the opportunity to support and enhance a more comprehensive Home Fire Safety program by incorporating additional elements and education into our established, successful program,” said Fire Marshal, Greg Rogers. “The installation of thermal fuses, firebreaks, and residential lockboxes will be added to our Home Fire Safety Visit program.  This is essential to life safety.  Late last year we had a fire and lost a life.  A thermal fuse along the oxygen delivery tube could have helped stop that fire and potentially saved a life.”

SVFD will also launch a new community based WUI education and awareness program through its Project RISK curriculum.  The WUI program will incorporate an online data portal with residential pre-incident planning (PIPs) surveys. Property information and mitigation updates, as well as individual health and safety needs, can be included in the PIPs providing real-time data access and information for safer environments for first responders, resulting in decreased injuries, fatalities, and property loss due to WUI identified fire risks.

“Applying Community Risk Reduction (CRR) best practices, SVFD will utilize these grant funds to strategically target our program activities for the greatest impact in our community,” said SVFD CRR Specialist, Caroline Kusher.

About Spokane Valley Fire Department
The Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) serves a population of 125,000+ over 75-square miles, including the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and Millwood, as well as surrounding unincorporated areas. In 2020, our cross-trained Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/Paramedics responded to more than 18,700 emergency calls.

Established in 1940, SVFD is committed to pursuing excellence and is distinguished as an accredited agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), and by SVFD’s Class 2 fire insurance rating from the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau

Connect with SVFD at: spokanevalleyfire.com. For department news, safety information, and timely updates, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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