The Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department will receive
$133,700 in federal grant funding to help boost recruitment levels,
develop education-based initiatives and purchase new equipment.

The funding, through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program,
was announced Tuesday by U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa.

The SAFER grant program – designed to help departments hike the
number of frontline firefighters by helping them increase staffing
and deployment capabilities – is part of the Assistance to
Firefighters Grants and is under the Office of Grants and Training
of the Department of Homeland Security.

“The SAFER program is a great way for the federal government to
directly assist the brave men and women on the ground directly
responsible for protecting our communities,” Peterson, a member of
the House Appropriations Committee, said.

Officials said the funding will be used to purchase new
equipment and training materials for junior firefighters, as well
as the development of other education-based initiatives designed to
raise community awareness and bolster local recruitment
efforts.

“The financial resources to promote our department, grow our
junior program and enhance our training will go a long way in
securing our future,” Bradford Township Fire Chief Dan Burkhouse
said.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Rick Brocius, plans for the
funding include the deployment of recruitment programs throughout
the community, development of a new department Web site and
electronic materials for community access and the establishment of
a new life insurance benefit program specifically designed for
firefighters.

Other ideas slated to be explored include the expansion of the
fire department’s junior firefighters program, development of new
recruitment videos to be passed out to schools and local community
centers and the commissioning of a comprehensive, top-down Needs
Assessment Study that will be used to inform the department’s
management, recruitment and procurement decisions in the
future.

“Our department if very grateful to the Department of Homeland
Security for this opportunity and honored to have been selected for
such an award,” Brocius said, adding the SAFER grant is very
competitive and will be spread out over four consecutive years.

Brocius said the department applied for the funding two years
ago. “I think you have to do a good job of promoting the integrity
of your organization for them to invest these types of funds in
you.”

According to Peterson’s Communications Director Chris Tucker, a
total of 182 grants have been awarded to departments across the
country; Pennsylvania received eight of them.

“This commitment of support over a four-year period will serve
to strengthen the department’s financial position and allow us to
pursue activities that may have otherwise been cost
prohibitive.”

Burkhouse said the department hopes to eventually probe working
with the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in the hopes of
drawing interest among the student body to volunteer.

One of the department’s stations is located on the outskirts of
the campus along West Washington Street.

“We are looking at expanding upon our junior program which we
started around five years ago,” Burkhouse said. “Other communities
use college students in their departments. It’s something we want
to work with Pitt-Bradford and try to develop a relationship with
them and market ourselves.”

Burkhouse said “it’s tough to buy equipment for kids that are
only here for a few months. But, on the other hand, if it’s done
right, it can benefit us.”

According to Burkhouse, the department has had a few
Pitt-Bradford students in the past.

“The junior program is where we need to look,” Burkhouse said.
“Hopefully, we can keep some kids in town and start to get it in
their blood.”

For the junior program, Burkhouse said volunteers are eligible
at age 14; they become a full member of the department at age
18.

As it stands, the department currently has upwards of 42
members, with nearly 30 of them considered active, Burkhouse said.
There are currently five members of the junior program.

Meanwhile, Burkhouse said the department has an incentive
program in place.

“This funding will allow us to do some training operations that
maybe we wouldn’t have done before, or if we had done them, it
would be financially tough,” Burkhouse said. “Now that burden will
be taken away.”

The funding will also help the department fund life insurance
for its members, according to Burkhouse.

“There is so much work involved in the fire departments, to get
volunteers and keep them is hard,” Burkhouse said. “You almost have
to offer them something else in addition to helping out your
neighbor. As it is, these people are working hard to maintain their
household and pay bills.”

Burkhouse said the department would like begin developing the
programs as soon as possible.