The South Carolina Firefighters’ Association is nearing completion of year three of its Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from FEMA and has received an extension adding five more counties, including Dillon County.
This grant covers costs of training, fitness for duty physicals, and structural firefighter personal protective clothing ensemble (turnout gear) for 30 new volunteer firefighters in each of the 16 included counties, adding a total of 480 new firefighters in South Carolina.
What does this mean for Fire Departments in Dillon County? Due to the cost of a new set of personal protective clothing (turnout gear), and much of our departments’ inventory being out of service due to age and/or wear, some departments will now be able to actively recruit new members with a plan in place to provide gear. A full set of personal protective clothing can range in price from $1,800- $3,000. Also included is the cost of fitness for duty physicals which averages between $200-$300 per firefighter. The total savings in PPC and physicals alone is around $65,000. Other items included in this grant will be a needs assessment performed by a fire service consulting firm in each of the included counties, marketing materials in print, radio, and TV state wide by the Association, a lighted display sign to be loaned out to counties throughout the state for recruitment and community risk reduction messages. The Association will also conduct multiple seminars focusing on minorities and women involved in emergency services.