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Council approves fire equipment purchases, rescue truck and funding shift to community paramedicine; engineering for Station 1 floor moves forward
Summary
The Town Council approved multiple fire department requests March 18, including purchase of 41 SCBA air packs using FEMA grant funds and local co-pay, acquisition of a refurbished rescue vehicle, reallocation of ambulance-billing revenue to the community paramedicine program, and $15,800 for engineering on Station 1’s apparatus floor.
The West Warwick Town Council approved several fire department requests March 18, including purchase of new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units, a refurbished rescue vehicle, a funding reallocation to the community paramedicine program and payment for engineering work at Fire Station 1.
Fire Department leaders told the council the town secured a FEMA grant that will provide roughly $412,000 toward purchasing 41 air packs (SCBA). The department said it has capital funds and money in an SCBA account to cover the required co-pay and asked the council to authorize the purchase; the council approved the request by voice vote.
Separately, the council authorized purchasing a refurbished rescue box on a new chassis rather than a full custom new vehicle. Officials said that approach will save the town about $150,000 compared with a brand-new custom chassis. Funding will come from lease savings and the rescue recovery fund.
Councilors also approved reallocating funds from ambulance-billing revenue to expand the town’s community paramedicine program. Lieutenant Ryan Simcoe told the council the program has enrolled more than 160 patients since July 2023; 61 patients have officially graduated. He said the graduates had an 82 percent reduction in 9‑1‑1 responses after graduation—about 250 fewer responses—resulting in roughly $350,000 in estimated cost savings. Officials said Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates remain low and that program sustainability will likely require continued municipal funding and state-level billing changes.
Finally, the council approved $15,800 to pay Commonwealth Engineering for slab design and plan development for replacement/repair of the apparatus floor at Fire Station 1. Staff said core sampling showed deterioration of several panels and that the engineering work is part of a state public‑safety infrastructure grant; the work is a 50/50 match under the grant and will produce plans needed for an RFP.
