By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
The Yukon Fire Department has done it again.
YFD officials recently were notified the department has been awarded a $70,945.45 federal Department of Homeland Security grant to purchase vehicle extrication equipment for the rescue squad.
“We’ll use the equipment when we respond to car wrecks,” Yukon Fire Chief Shawn Vogt said.
This Assistance to Firefighters Grant will fund a “Jaws of Life” cutter/spreader/ram combination tool (estimated cost $61,165) and an air bag controller, air bags and stabilization kits (estimated cost $16,280).
The funds are available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
Chief Vogt recommended the Yukon City Council accept the grant award, which they did Sept. 7.
Yukon’s fire chief hopes to receive the new vehicle extrication equipment within 90 days.
FEMA officials determined the YFD’s grant application was worthy of award.
The purpose of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program is to “protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards,” according to the summary award memo.
The City of Yukon will be responsible for a 10% “cost share” not to exceed $7,094.55.
This marks the second time in as many years that Yukon Fire has earned an Assistance to Firefighters Grant.
In August 2020, the YFD was awarded a $232,000 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant to purchase new firefighter air packs.
The YFD used the funds to acquire 36 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units, including 72 cylinders and 41 facemasks.
Each unit has a thermal imaging camera to detect heat and voice amplifiers.
The City of Yukon was responsible for a 10% ($23,200) cost share after that grant award.
THIS AND THAT …
Among other business at its Sept. 7th meeting, the city council approved:
- Watonga Police Department’s purchase of used body armor from the Yukon Police Department. Equipment cost is $785 for a personal protective vest and $249.20 for an external carrier.
- Paying $141,120.43 to Tyler Technologies, Inc. for annual maintenance renewal for 14 Tyler Technologies’ Income software modules ($45,538.20) and the police department’s New World CAD software modules ($95,582.23).
- Paying $112,473.15 to Brewer Construction for a Turtle Creek drainage channel repair project (read more in an upcoming edition).
- A conditional use permit for Edgar Guzman to place a manufactured home on property in the 4400 block of N Richland.
