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Fiscal Court approves award of AFG grant bid for new SCBA units for fire department
Summary
The court authorized awarding a bid (up to the $184,400 AFG grant award) for replacement SCBA equipment after the fire chief said existing packs are ~22 years old, parts are no longer supported, and new equipment offers safety and tracking improvements.
Franklin County Fiscal Court voted to authorize awarding a bid for new fire department SCBA (self‑contained breathing apparatus) equipment after a presentation by Chief Brewer. The project is tied to an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and includes 17 packs, 34 cylinders and 41 facepieces; the packet lists an awarded grant amount of $184,400.
Chief Brewer told the court the existing SCBA fleet is roughly 22 years old and vendors have stopped supporting parts for older models. New units described in the bid include manufacturer warranties and integrated accountability software that reports on wearer location, air remaining, and Mayday alerts. The chief said the department maintains certified technicians for annual testing and expects a 15–20 year equipment life cycle.
Why it matters: The equipment protects firefighters in high‑risk scenarios and provides monitoring that can shorten rescue times and improve safety on incidents. Several court members urged developing a lifecycle replacement plan to avoid a future cliff where many units become unsupported simultaneously.
Funding and next steps: The court approved awarding the contract to the lowest responsive bidder, 911 Fleet and Fire Equipment, up to the full grant amount ($184,400) to preserve flexibility to adjust quantities with AFG approval. Staff will coordinate any budget amendments and submit quantity adjustments to the grant administrator as needed.
Vote: The motion to award the contract passed during the voting session.
