DEPARTMENT: SAFD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
TIFMAS Grant Assistance Program through Texas Forest Service
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Type III Brush Truck valued at approximately $85,000 through the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP)/Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Vehicle Assignment Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The 81st Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1011 in 2009. The law amended portions of the statute governing the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. By statute, the former TCFP Fire Department Emergency Program was abolished effective January 1, 2010. The funds from that program were transferred to the Texas A&M Forest Service. These funds are now used for an entirely new grant program called the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Grant Assistance Program. The program assists career and combination fire departments with grants for the purchase of TIFMAS apparatus, training tuition, Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE), and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). The TIFMAS Vehicle Assignment Program would provide a Type III Brush Truck for use by the San Antonio Fire Department.
The SAFD Wildland Response Team currently consists of forty-eight (48) members. During 2011, five Wildland Fire deployments occurred. The Mineral Wells deployment occurred during March 2011; Deaton Cole, Possum Kingdom, and Swenson deployments occurred in April 2011; Bastrop deployment occurred in September. The TIFMAS Grant Program provides an opportunity to enhance the capabilities of the Wildland Team by providing equipment and funding for equipment specific to Wildland Firefighting.
ISSUE:
FEPP/TIFMAS has reached an agreement with Siddons Apparatus to refurbish and fully equip Federal Excess Brush trucks and award these apparatus to qualifying Fire Departments as part of the TIFMAS Vehicle Assignment Program. The Type III Brush Truck is a Ford F-800, seats 5, with a 500 Gallon capacity tank and has a 500 Gallon per Minute (GPM) pump performance and is valued at approximately $85,000.00.
An additional Type III Brush Truck would increase the department's Type III Brush Truck fleet by 75% and would enhance brush fire response capability and mitigate the shortage of vehicles during high demand periods of Wildland fires.
Upon notice of approval, the SAFD will take possession of the Vehicle at a time and location mutually decided. As per grant requirements, the City will carry vehicle liability insurance for the apparatus and be presented to TIFMAS annually. The City will also equip the apparatus with one MDC and one radio for communication purposes.
ALTERNATIVES:
An alternative would be non-acceptance of the TIFMAS Grant which would place a strain on the current fleet and would require the City to use current vehicles for Wildland Fire Deployments.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes acceptance of a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Type III FEPP/TIFMAS Brush Truck which is valued at approximately $85,000.00 through the TIFMAS Vehicle Assignment Program.
There is no cost associated with acquiring the vehicle. However, expenditures related to the cost of fuel, maintenance and repair, and equipment for the vehicle will be incurred beginning in FY 2015. The estimated cost for FY 2015 is $20,000.00 and future annual costs will be $13,000.00. The Fire Department will redirect budget from other services to pay for the FY 2015 costs as the truck was not originally budgeted.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this Ordinance to accept an NWCG Type III Brush Truck.