Fireman?s Fund Heritage: Marinwood Fire Chief Tells His Story
Insurance agents Jim Parrett and Joe Costamagna at Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Insurance called me recently to tell me that our fire department would be awarded a grant of $14,000. I was thrilled to hear this exciting news for I knew our department could really use a new thermal imaging camera?which we are now able to purchase thanks to this grant.
As part of Fireman?s Fund Insurance Company?s philanthropic mission to support firefighters for safer communities, agents across the country who carry Fireman?s Fund products have the opportunity to direct grants to their local fire departments. Fire departments use these grants for the purchase of new equipment, firefighter training or fire safety education.
Thermal imaging cameras are a tremendous piece of firefighting equipment. They use infrared sensor technology to help firefighters and other rescue workers ?see? through smoke, darkness or dense vegetation to find victims or quickly locate the source of a fire. With a thermal imaging camera in hand, firefighters often can extinguish the source of fire before it spreads. Our new thermal imaging camera will enable us to efficiently and effectively save lives and minimize damage. Without a doubt, this equipment helps make our community safer.
Grants like these make a difference, as funding shortages have affected many fire departments across the nation. Despite limited resources, fire departments are being asked to do more with less. And our fire department is no exception.
Our professional and volunteer firefighters provide 24 hour-a-day fire and medical response to Marinwood, Lucas Valley, and Lucas Valley Estates. We also provide response to adjacent areas in San Rafael and operate within the county-wide mutual aid program.
Our firefighters are trained in the latest fire science and medical techniques and provide a number of services to the community including fire safety programs, educational programs at the schools, tours of the firehouse and public assistance during natural disasters. We operate one fire station with a staff of 10 full-time firefighters and one chief. We also have an active volunteer firefighter program, with up to 20 participants. Our service area includes the community of Marinwood, with about 1,760 homes, four schools, a small shopping center, and a professional center. We handle approximately X calls each year.
Thank you to our friends at HRH and Fireman?s Fund Insurance Company for this grant and for making our community safer.
| |
Thursday, May 23, 2013