03.27.23

WASHINGTON – Right now, US Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Congressman Invoice Pascrell (DN.J.) launched bipartisan, bicameral laws to assist construct and enhance hearth stations throughout the nation. The FIRE STATION Act will create a $750 million grant program inside the Federal Emergency Administration Administration (FEMA) to switch, improve, and assemble hearth and EMS amenities to help our first responders and their work to maintain our communities protected.

In accordance with a current nationwide report on native firefighters in the US, 44 % of fireplace stations are over the age of 40 and in want of serious repairs. Moreover, 56 % of stations lack exhaust emission controls and aren’t adequately geared up with most cancers prevention techniques. The survey additionally finds that many hearth and emergency stations throughout the nation haven’t any backup energy, have outdated air flow techniques and mildew, and even lack housing for feminine workers. A survey of Maryland firefighters performed final yr by Senator Van Hollen’s workplace discovered related conclusions on the nationwide pattern, revealing that 71 departments statewide are in want of some kind of restore, starting from renovations, additions or require utterly new constructions.

“Our firefighters deserve the very best amenities to allow them to be prepared with all the pieces they should spring into motion when obligation calls. But almost half of fireplace stations throughout America require main repairs, with some even posing severe well being dangers to the women and men who shield our communities. This bipartisan invoice will unlock further funding to make sure our hearth and EMS heroes have amenities which can be trendy, protected and mission-ready” Senator Van Hollen stated.

“Those that function firefighters all through Alaska not solely deserve practical amenities, however Want them – to assist them reply rapidly and safely to emergencies. Sadly, many hearth stations in our state are in dire want of restore and improve, which is why I be a part of my colleagues on this bipartisan measure, the FIRE STATION Act, to put money into our hearth stations and to help the people who find themselves all the time there for our communities once we want them most” Senator Murkowski stated.

“Firefighters and EMS personnel put their lives on the road on daily basis to guard our communities. They deserve the very best assets and amenities to do their important work,” stated Congressman Pascrell. “Our Fireplace Station Act will present essential funding to assist modernize hearth and EMS amenities throughout the nation, guaranteeing our first responders have the instruments they should do their jobs effectively. protected and efficient”.

The bill textual content is accessible right here.

This laws is accepted by THE Worldwide Affiliation of Firefighters (IAFF), Worldwide Affiliation of Fireplace Chiefs (IAFC), Nationwide Volunteer Fireplace Council (NVFC), Congressional Fireplace Companies Institute (CFSI), and Nationwide Fireplace Safety Affiliation (NFPA).

“Firefighters work lengthy shifts that stretch 24 hours or extra. Their hearth stations act as second houses. Firefighters deserve clear, trendy and protected amenities the place they will prepare and relaxation between emergency responses. Numerous hearth stations nationwide have fallen into harmful ranges of decay, placing the well being and security of firefighters in danger. Funds-strapped native governments want help to restore and change these dilapidated stations. The IAFF commends Rep. Pascrell and Senator Van Hollen for introducing the FIRE STATION Act and preventing for the wants of our firefighters. We urge Congress to cross this laws and make sure that firefighters have protected, trendy stations that permit them to greatest serve their communities” stated IAFF normal president Edward Kelly.

“I thank Senator Van Hollen and Rep. Pascrell for introducing the FIRE STATION invoice,” stated Chief Donna M. Black, EFO, CFO, president and chair of the board of the Worldwide Affiliation of Fireplace Chiefs. “In accordance with analysis by the Nationwide Fireplace Safety Affiliation, 43% of firefighters have constructions which can be greater than 40 years previous. These amenities could also be affected by mildew, previous air flow techniques, and different environmental points, and should lack crew quarters for feminine firefighters and EMS personnel. This laws will assist firefighters improve their stations to fulfill the life, security and well being necessities of contemporary firefighters.”

“I wish to thank Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Pascrell for reintroducing this essential laws. 1000’s of fireplace stations throughout the nation are outdated and don’t meet present voluntary consent requirements for well being and security. This downside is especially acute in smaller rural communities, which regularly lack the tax base to adequately put money into trendy EMS and firefighting amenities. The FIRE STATION Act will present the required funds to assist the Fireplace and EMS Departments put money into vital facility upgrades,” stated Steve Hirsch, president of the Nationwide Volunteer Fireplace Council.

“Our nation’s hearth and emergency providers personnel work tirelessly to maintain their communities protected. We should make sure that the amenities the place they sleep, eat and work are protected and code compliant” stated Invoice Webb, government director of the Congressional Fireplace Companies Institute. “CFSI thanks Senators Van Hollen and Murkowski and Congressman Pascrell for introducing this piece of laws that may make investments important federal funding into hearth and emergency providers infrastructure throughout the nation. We sit up for working with them and different members of the Congressional Fireplace Companies Caucus to cross this laws.”

“NFPA’s newest U.S. Firefighters Wants Evaluation, launched in late 2021, as soon as once more discovered important firefighter well being points at hearth stations throughout the US. An estimated 44 % of fireplace stations are over the age of 40, a statistic that continues to rise. Along with outdated designs and mildew issues, too many stations lack enough air flow, backup energy, and amenities for the rising variety of feminine firefighters. We’re happy to help this effort by the leaders of the Congressional Fireplace Companies Caucus to put money into enhancements in our nation’s hearth stations and within the well being and security of our nation’s first responders,” stated Jim Pauley, president and chief government officer of the Nationwide Fireplace Safety Affiliation.

Senators Van Hollen and Murkowski have joined in introducing this laws since U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Jack Reed ( DR.I.).

“In all sorts of emergencies, firefighters and emergency medical technicians step as much as do important and lifesaving work for our communities,” Senator Casey stated. “These heroes have powerful jobs which can be too usually made harder by crumbling constructions and lack of assets. The FIRE STATION Act is not going to solely construct, renovate and modernize hearth stations throughout Pennsylvania and our nation, however it’s going to put money into our security and safety and assist make sure that our first responders are effectively geared up and approved to come back to rescue.

“Montana’s firefighters and first responders put their lives at risk on daily basis to maintain our communities protected,” Senator Tester stated. “These courageous women and men are sometimes our first line of protection when catastrophe strikes, and we owe them to make sure they’ve the assets they want when known as to motion. That is why I am proud to hitch folks on each side of the aisle in siding with the Montana firefighters and can proceed to battle to make sure Montana will get these assets to construct and preserve our hearth stations.”

“Firefighters and first responders put their lives on the road on daily basis, usually going through anxious and harmful conditions, to guard Ohioans,” Senator Brown stated. “This laws will assist guarantee Ohio’s first responders have the assets they should improve their amenities and preserve our communities protected.”

“In a few of life’s most difficult occasions, firefighters, lots of whom are volunteers, come to the rescue of their neighborhood, prioritizing the security of others. Our gratitude for his or her public service should be backed up by the funding and assets firefighters want to do that troublesome job as safely and effectively as potential.” Senator Cardin stated. “We’re introducing laws to authorize federal funding that may fill the gaps in tools and infrastructure going through so lots of our hearth stations.”

“The FIRE STATION Act is a great funding to enhance public security, cut back response occasions, enhance amenities, and make sure the well being and well-being of our firefighters,” Senator Reed stated.

Pursuant to the FIRE STATION regulation, funding can be utilized for:

Construct, rebuild, or renovate hearth and EMS amenities;

• Upgrading of present amenities for the set up of exhaust emission management techniques;
• Set up of backup energy techniques;
• Upgrading or changing environmental management techniques, comparable to HVAC techniques;
• Mildew elimination or reclamation;
• Building or alteration of housing for workers use; AND
• Improve hearth and EMS stations or construct new stations to fulfill trendy constructing codes and requirements set forth by the Nationwide Fireplace Safety Affiliation and the Worldwide Code Council.

Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Pascrell beforehand launched a model of this laws, titled the Fireplace Station Building Grants Act, in 2022.