Fire district awarded $823,500 grant

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District (District) has received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enhance volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention.

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program provides funding to public agencies to protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards.

The grant was awarded to the District after an exhaustive review and analysis of applicants from across the United States. The grant was written in cooperation with Black Butte Ranch Fire District and Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District. Funds from the grant will enhance volunteer recruitment and retention for all three agencies. The grant provides funding for a period of four years and does not require any matching funds to be contributed by the District. Funds will be used by the District to:

• Hire a Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Coordinator.

• Provide protective clothing for all new volunteer firefighters.

• Provide medical physicals for new volunteer firefighters.

• Provide uniforms for new volunteer firefighters.

• Provide volunteer firefighter retention incentives.

• Provide enhanced training for existing volunteer firefighters.

• Provide emergency medical training for new volunteer firefighters.

• Create a marketing plan for recruitment.

The overall goal of the program is to recruit and train at least 10 new volunteer firefighters each year of the grant period.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District Chief Roger Johnson said, "This is a tremendous opportunity to enhance our volunteer program in coordination with our neighboring fire districts. Volunteer recruitment and retention will be standardized between the three agencies including initial training and certification."

Damon Frutos, a firefighter paramedic with the District, wrote the grant and was successful in his first attempt applying for the SAFER grant. The grant award was a culmination of more than a year of planning and coordination between the three fire districts. The three districts formed an Interagency Coordination Committee last year in an effort to standardize operations and improve efficiency. A combined training sub-committee identified the need for standardized training and recruitment of volunteer firefighters.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District Deputy Chief Tim Craig said, "I would like to recognize the accomplishment of Firefighter Frutos and the rest of the Interagency Training Committee in securing this grant. The grant will provide a great opportunity for all three fire districts to work even more closely together."

The District will now begin the process of hiring an employee to perform the functions of volunteer recruitment and retention. The hiring process should be complete by December 1 and recruitment activity should begin shortly after. For more information about becoming a volunteer firefighter or resident volunteer firefighter contact one of the agencies

below.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District: 541-549-0771 or www.sistersfire.com.

Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District: 541-389-2345 or www.cloverdalefire.com.

Black Butte Ranch Fire District 541-595-2288 or www.blackbutteranchfire.com.