Appropriating $20,000 Emergency Medical Services Fund for Haz-Mat Equipment

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CITY ®f SOUTH BEND ROGER O. PARENT, Mayor COUNTY -CITY BUILDING SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 46601 SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT 2191284 -9255 701 W. Sample Street South Bend, Indiana 46621 Timothy J. Brassell September 30, 1983 Fire Chief South Bend Common Council County -City Building South Bend, IN 46601 Dear Council Members: In 1980, the South Bend Fire Department began the formation of an Emergency Hazardous Materials Response Team. Beginning in late 1980 and continuing to the present, team members have accumulated over 1,000 hours of outside schooling and countless hours of in- service training. While the team has gained a great deal of know- ledge and has responded to several incidents within the City, it lacks the very specialized equipment to become fully operational. The South Bend Fire Department Haz /Mat personnel now have the knowledge and training necessary to effectively manage most hazard- ous material emeraencies. At this time, in order for the team to become operational, the necessary equipment must be acquired. The Fire Department administration, together with the team, has developed a minimum list of equipment which will provide safety for the per- sonnel while allowing the team to operate effectively at an incident site. The equipment list is generally divided into three categories; personal safety equipment, communication equipment and support equipment. This equipment, along with a vehicle which the Fire Department already has available, will allow the team to function independently of the South Bend Fire Department. The cost of the listed equipment, not counting the vehicle, is $50,000. The sources of funding are proposed as follows. The City will provide General Revenue Funds in the amount of $30,000. The Fire Department will seek to appropriate the remaining $20,000 from the Emergency Medical Capital Fund. As always, the Fire Department staff will be available to answer any questions concerning this most important project. Sincerely, Timothy J. Brassell Fire Chief TJB /vm