Cosumnes Fire Department Receives $173,000 in Federal and State Grants

Funds will provide new portable radios and community emergency training

The Cosumnes Fire Department announced that it has received federal and state grants totaling more than $173,000 to acquire new portable radios and fund a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training program.

Working in partnership with other fire agencies, including the West Sacramento Fire Department, Sacramento City Fire Department, Woodland Fire Department and Wilton Fire Protection District, among others, the Cosumnes Fire Department (CFD) was awarded a $105,144 Federal Emergency Management Agency 2010 Assistance to Firefighters Grant to purchase 42 new portable radios, which replace 13-year-old units. The grant pays for 80 percent of the purchase price, with the CFD investing only $21,000 from its operating budget.

“The federal grant for new radios is a great example of our collaboration with other area agencies and leveraging our resources for new equipment we need to do our jobs as effectively as possible,” said Fire Chief Tracey Hansen.

A $68,000 California Homeland Security Grant for the CERT program will be used through the end of 2012 to design and implement training programs in Elk Grove and Galt, and for tools and equipment needed for disaster response.

The CERT program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their community and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

“We’re extremely pleased and fortunate to receive this funding, which will help our communities respond more effectively to emergencies,” said John Michelini, Cosumnes Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations. “With more community members trained in how to respond appropriately to disasters, everyone is safer because it speeds up and extends our response capabilities.”

This is the fourth consecutive year the CFD has been awarded a CERT training grant for Elk Grove and Galt.