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Fire department seeks grants for air packs as board emphasizes oversight and compliance
Summary
Denmark’s fire chief reported the department needs to replace aging air packs (eight units estimated at about $10,000 each) and is pursuing private grants while the board asks for clearer reporting on hours, training and a list of outstanding Department-of-Labor compliance items.
Denmark — At the Feb. 17 budget meeting, fire-department leaders presented capital needs and compliance work needed after a consultant review and asked the committee to consider using grant or donation funds to cover equipment replacements.
Interim fire-department staff said turnout-gear replacement purchased last year was partly offset by grants; the department now needs to replace self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA or “air packs”), reporting that their current sets will be unusable after a January 31 expiration in the near term. The department estimates replacement cost at roughly $10,000 per pack and said it needs eight packs to meet department staffing expectations.
The chief reported the department has a 16‑item laundry list of items to address from a recent consultant review tied to Department of Labor requirements and is pursuing private grants and donations. The committee heard that some recent turnout-gear costs were offset by grant funding (about $64,000) while the town paid the balance.
Why it matters: SCBA are safety-critical equipment for interior firefighting. The committee asked for an inventory and suggested staggering replacements if grant funding is uncertain, while also asking staff to produce clearer reports on the fire-director’s hours, call requirements and the consultant’s outstanding compliance items.
Committee members pressed for a short-term plan so the department is not left without compliant equipment and for a written schedule describing volunteer staffing, training plans and the anticipated grant timeline. The department said it will apply for two private grants and ask the select board whether turnout-gear grant reimbursements might be applied to the air-pack purchases if donors and grant conditions permit.
The committee asked the fire staff to return with an inventory of equipment, a prioritized replacement plan, and documentation on how grant and donation funds are restricted so the board can ensure compliance with donor intents and grant terms.
