August 21, 2008 - Shreveport Fire Department lands +$60,000 Federal grant for fire prevention efforts

• Funding comes at crucial time to aid newly created Fire Safety Task Force

Shreveport, La ---The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recently announced that the Shreveport Fire Department is being awarded a $63,585 grant to enhance Fire Prevention and Safety programs in our community. Under this grant, the Shreveport Fire Department will purchase innovative technology and equipment to support ongoing and future fire prevention programs, such as those being researched by the department’s newly created Fire Safety Task Force.

Some of the proposed equipment to be purchased includes:

• Updated PA system and laptop computers
• Video Camera and accessories
• ‘Pluggie, the Fire Plug’, a mechanical educational robot
• Mass medic: Fire Safety Booklets / marketing handbills and literature / and educational DVDs
• Fire Prevention training for personnel

Fire Chief Brian Crawford said, “The awarding of this grant comes at a critical time in our fire prevention efforts because it supports my vision and provides a tool for the recently created Fire Safety Task Force to reduce the occurrence of residential fires and the injuries and deaths that are associated with these events. It could not have come at a better time as the Task Force attempts to develop a strategic initiative for tackling the issue of evaluating the five tragic fire deaths we have encountered this year and how to minimize these instances in the future.”

This grant will allow the department to purchase the necessary fire prevention components for “Safety Town,” an advanced interactive learning environment for school-aged children as part of a joint partnership with the Caddo Sheriff’s Office. Through proper educational mediums, these types of programs will create a comprehensive fire-safety awareness plan for children as well as adults. According to 2008 local fire deaths statistics, all of the fire death victims were minors and seniors.

The awarding of this grant marks the fourth consecutive year that the Shreveport Fire Department has been proactive in writing and receiving governmental grant funding. In 2007, the Shreveport Fire Department received over $400,000 for updated and expandable communications equipment and equipment for our Fitness and Wellness programs. This year’s grant was written by Derrick Harris, Fire Inspector from the Fire Prevention Division of the Shreveport Fire Department.