Some good news in the form of grant funding for the North Royalton Fire Department has been realized recently by the city. Two grants will help compensate for purchases made for the department.
A grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has been awarded. In addition, the city will benefit from a grant from the 2016 Urban Area Security Initiative through Cuyahoga County. “We try as hard as we can with the resources we can find to obtain added funding,” said Fire Chief Bob Chegan. “I’m always looking to see what’s it going to do for my city, either directly or indirectly. We are very fortunate to obtain this. It’s a win-win and on to the next one.” Chegan’s search for extra funding is a continual part of his position. He noted that “there are some regional grants, but it has been difficult for our regional teams to get grant money, as they are drying up.
The city will receive a grant in the amount of $10,065.00 for the reimbursement of gear that will help with the purchase of 66 FireDex H-41 Particulate Blocking Firefighter Hoods and 66 pairs of Dragonfire Alpha-X Structural Firefighting Gloves. The city will pay $2,013.00 toward the total purchase price of $12,078.00. “What we had were hoods with no protection,” said Chegan. “Now, when you wear one of these new hoods, it absorbs anything that can come in contact with your skin. These have a specific barrier protection that will block out cancer causing agents. This will offer a lot more protection.”
The grant is a part of the Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements Grant (FEEEG) Program. The FEEEG Program started last year, which partners the BWC with employers in Ohio in an effort to minimize exposure to dangerous environmental elements. It provides funding toward the purchase of:
– Diesel exhaust systems
-Extractors/washing machines for turn-out gear
-Hoods with barrier protection
-Washable gloves for optimal protection against these exposures
“The dangers of fighting a fire do not stop when the flames are extinguished,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison. “The men and women who risk their lives to save ours deserve access to the best equipment and tools that can minimize long-term threats to their health and well-being.” The FEEEGrant provides $2 million a year to assist in the purchase safety gear and equipment designed to protect firefighters from carcinogens and other harmful elements encountered during fires. The BWC received 444 grant applications seeking nearly $4.7 million in funding.
“What we are looking at the fire service nationally, cancer rates (250% greater than people not in our line of work) is skyrocketing. There have been a lot of studies,” said Chegan. He said that the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters have been instrumental in these studies. “Boston has seen a rash of cancer related deaths, so they were one of the leaders to start us out,” said Chegan. “I’m glad to see the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation jump on this.” Chegan said that after firefighters are engaged with a fire, it could take three to five days for the smell of smoke to dissipate, even after showering. “So, we know it’s in us and we are getting these cancers at a higher rate. It goes back to the exposure. What we know now is that building materials are becoming more carcinogenic. They are burning off high volumes of toxins,” said Chegan.
The city received notification on April 10 in a letter from Ibraheem (Abe) Tarawneh, Superintendent of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Division of Safety and Hygiene. The award is expected by mid-June. The equipment must be then purchased and implemented within ninety days.
The department will also be the recipient of a Cuyahoga County grant for bulletproof vests for EMS/Firefighters through the Federal 2016 Urban Area Security Initiative grant. This grant offers two sets of gear for every fire station in the county. Chegan hopes to get two to three through this grant. The city will need at least eight to protect the entire crew. Chegan expects the distribution this week. The city will then purchase the additional vests. The vests cost about $1,000 each.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer