FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Chief Vern Losh, County of Sonoma Department of Emergency Services

Phone Number: (707) 565-1152

County of Sonoma Receives Grant from Department of Homeland Security for Essential Communications Equipment for Firefighters

Santa Rosa -The County of Sonoma Department of Emergency Services has received a grant of $544,825 from the 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. These funds will be utilized to purchase critically needed communications equipment.

“This grant represents a tremendous boost to the capacities of fire departments throughout the county to communicate in emergency situations,” said County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors Chair Tim Smith. He noted, “The award of these funds in an extremely competitive environment is a strong testament to the outstanding work of the men and women, professional and volunteer, in the 38 fire departments that collaborated in this grant application. Use of the new communications equipment will help guarantee that our firefighters will be exposed to as little risk as possible, while maximizing their ability to collaborate with other departments and safeguard the public.”

Through its application to the 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, the County of Sonoma sought funding to enable the purchase of mobile and portable radio equipment for all 38 fire agencies in Sonoma County, California. Utilization of the equipment enables communication between all local fire agencies, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), as well as other fire departments across California.

“Currently, many of our local agencies are unable to communicate with each other and with external agencies like the CDF and USFS due to their antiquated personal and vehicular communications technologies,” said Chief Vern Losh, Director of the Department of Emergency Services, County of Sonoma.

A recent fire near the city of Petaluma in southern Sonoma County underscored the need for these portable and mobile units. While fighting the fire, 50 firefighting vehicles were attempting to use the same communications frequency. Hidden in the communications chatter, a single firefighter's “may day” call went unnoticed.

Control of the September 2004 Geysers Fire, which burned 12,525 acres, involved the cooperation of the CDF, U.S. Forest Service, California Highway Patrol, local fire agencies from Sonoma and Marin Counties, the California Office of Emergency Services and other agencies. Unfortunately, many of the Sonoma County fire departments reporting to the scene did not have the capacity to communicate over the frequencies being used by the CDF, due to a lack of frequencies on their portable and mobile radios.

“The mobile and portable radios funded with this new grant will enable all fire departments to use the County’s REDCOM dispatch system and work at fire scenes in conjunction with the CDF and USFS,” said Chief John Zanzi of the Sebastopol Fire Department, who is also currently chair of the Radio Technology Committee for the Sonoma County Fire Chiefs Association.

A total of 38 departments actively participated in this analysis representing the communities of: Annapolis, Bennett Valley, Bloomfield, Bodega Bay, Bodega, Camp Meeker, Cazadero, Cloverdale, Forestville, Geyserville, Glen Ellen, Gold Ridge, Graton, Healdsburg, Kenwood, Knights Valley, Lakeville, Mayacamas, Monte Rio, Mountain, Occidental, Petaluma, Rancho Adobe, Rincon Valley, Rohnert Park, Russian River, San Antonio, Santa Rosa, Sea Ranch, Sebastopol, Schell Vista, Sonoma Valley, Sotoyome, Timber Cove, Two Rock, Valley Ford, Windsor, and Wilmar.

“We recognize the importance of these grants to our nation’s fire departments and we will continue to work closely with the fire service community to meet their needs,” said Matt A. Mayer, Acting Executive Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program enables local fire departments to purchase firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire education and prevention programs throughout the United States.

“The Assistance to Firefighters Grants ensures that the nation’s firefighters continue to have the basic capability they require to do their jobs, improve safety and save lives,” said David Paulison, Administrator of the Department of Homeland Security’s United States Fire Administration.

The Department of Homeland Security, in cooperation with the Department’s United States Fire Administration, administers the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

For more information on the County of Sonoma Department of Emergency Services Fire Services Division, please see the website at http://www.sonoma-county.org/des/fire_service.htm. For more information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, please visit the Program Website at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/, or contact the Grants Program Office at 1-866-274-0960. For more information on USFA, please visit the Website at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/.

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	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Chief Vern Losh, County of Sonoma Department of Emergency Services Phone Number: (707) 565-1152 County of Sonoma Receives Grant from Department of Homeland Security for Essential Communications Equipment for Firefighters *Santa Rosa* -The County of Sonoma Department of Emergency Services has received a grant of $544,825 from the 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. These funds will be utilized to purchase critically needed communications equipment. “This grant represents a tremendous boost to the capacities of fire departments throughout the county to communicate in emergency situations,” said County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors Chair Tim Smith. He noted, “The award of these funds in an extremely competitive environment is a strong testament to the outstanding work of the men and women, professional and volunteer, in the 38 fire departments that collaborated in this grant application. Use of the new communications equipment will help guarantee that our firefighters will be exposed to as little risk as possible, while maximizing their ability to collaborate with other departments and safeguard the public.” Through its application to the 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, the County of Sonoma sought funding to enable the purchase of mobile and portable radio equipment for all 38 fire agencies in Sonoma County, California. Utilization of the equipment enables communication between all local fire agencies, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), as well as other fire departments across California. “Currently, many of our local agencies are unable to communicate with each other and with external agencies like the CDF and USFS due to their antiquated personal and vehicular communications technologies,” said Chief Vern Losh, Director of the Department of Emergency Services, County of Sonoma. A recent fire near the city of Petaluma in southern Sonoma County underscored the need for these portable and mobile units. While fighting the fire, 50 firefighting vehicles were attempting to use the same communications frequency. Hidden in the communications chatter, a single firefighter's “may day” call went unnoticed. Control of the September 2004 Geysers Fire, which burned 12,525 acres, involved the cooperation of the CDF, U.S. Forest Service, California Highway Patrol, local fire agencies from Sonoma and Marin Counties, the California Office of Emergency Services and other agencies. Unfortunately, many of the Sonoma County fire departments reporting to the scene did not have the capacity to communicate over the frequencies being used by the CDF, due to a lack of frequencies on their portable and mobile radios. “The mobile and portable radios funded with this new grant will enable all fire departments to use the County’s REDCOM dispatch system and work at fire scenes in conjunction with the CDF and USFS,” said Chief John Zanzi of the Sebastopol Fire Department, who is also currently chair of the Radio Technology Committee for the Sonoma County Fire Chiefs Association. A total of 38 departments actively participated in this analysis representing the communities of: Annapolis, Bennett Valley, Bloomfield, Bodega Bay, Bodega, Camp Meeker, Cazadero, Cloverdale, Forestville, Geyserville, Glen Ellen, Gold Ridge, Graton, Healdsburg, Kenwood, Knights Valley, Lakeville, Mayacamas, Monte Rio, Mountain, Occidental, Petaluma, Rancho Adobe, Rincon Valley, Rohnert Park, Russian River, San Antonio, Santa Rosa, Sea Ranch, Sebastopol, Schell Vista, Sonoma Valley, Sotoyome, Timber Cove, Two Rock, Valley Ford, Windsor, and Wilmar. “We recognize the importance of these grants to our nation’s fire departments and we will continue to work closely with the fire service community to meet their needs,” said Matt A. Mayer, Acting Executive Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program enables local fire departments to purchase firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire education and prevention programs throughout the United States. “The Assistance to Firefighters Grants ensures that the nation’s firefighters continue to have the basic capability they require to do their jobs, improve safety and save lives,” said David Paulison, Administrator of the Department of Homeland Security’s United States Fire Administration. The Department of Homeland Security, in cooperation with the Department’s United States Fire Administration, administers the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. For more information on the County of Sonoma Department of Emergency Services Fire Services Division, please see the website at http://www.sonoma-county.org/des/fire_service.htm. For more information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, please visit the Program Website at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/, or contact the Grants Program Office at 1-866-274-0960. For more information on USFA, please visit the Website at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/. Home \| About Us \| Results \| Contact Copyright © 2005 The Glen Price Group