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The City of Fairfield Fire Department was notified Friday, March 9 by Senator George Voinovich’s office that the department is a recipient of a 2006 “Assistance to Firefighters” grant worth nearly $130,000. The grant is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The department submitted an application requesting funding for purchasing new portable radios. Currently, Fairfield operates on its own low-band radio frequency and encounters interoperability problems when responding into other communities that operate on a different radio frequency.  Likewise, when mutual aid is requested from other communities, there is difficulty communicating with them. This grant will allow the department to place at least one radio on each engine and medic unit that might possibly respond on a mutual aid request, thereby allowing us to solve the interoperability problem between departments. These radios will also be compatible with the new radio system under construction in Butler County, thereby eliminating the need to carry multiple radios.

Fairfield Fire Lieutenant and department spokesperson Tom Wagner stated, “The addition of these portable radios, which cost over $4000 a piece, helps to ensure the safety of our crews by giving them the means to communicate with neighboring jurisdictions that we respond with. We are grateful for grant programs such as this one that allow us to solve our interoperability problem with equipment we normally would have to do without due to budget constraints.”

Also, the department received funding for mobile data computers (MDC) which will be installed in all emergency apparatus. These Tough Book computers, which also include a mounting base & pedestal, modem, power supply, air card & software, will allow responders to receive additional information from dispatch and allow dispatchers to know what units are currently on a run and which are available to take a call.  

The approved project costs total $129,415. The grant is a 90/10 share which means the federal government pays 90% of the actual cost and the city pays 10%.

This is the fourth time the department has received such a grant. The three previous grants were for self contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs), thermal imaging equipment, radio equipment and turnout gear.