The White Lake Fire Authority made the most of the $10,000 MI Fire Equipment grant it applied for and received last year. Lt. Lars Nilsson was the man tasked with spending the grant money once it was disbursed to recipients this month, and Nilsson squeezed just about every available dollar out of it.
“We had up to $10,000 to spend, and I think he spent $9,975 and some change,” chuckled WLFA chief Pete McCarthy. “He made sure we got every possible dollar we could.”
The grant, part of a multimillion-dollar state initiative, enabled the WLFA and other recipient departments to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for their firefighters. (Nearby Dalton Township’s department, McCarthy said, was also among the grant recipients.) The only catch to the grant was it was only open to departments for which at least 50% of the workforce is on-call and not full-time staffers, which meant big-city departments need not apply.
McCarthy said he applies for “at least three different grants” each year for the department. Other than a grant for firefighters to receive hazard pay during the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the first one it has been awarded during his time as chief, though sponsorships and donations have been there in that time as well.
“Thankfully it was a relatively simple process,” McCarthy said. “I typed for a half hour...and (Nilsson) spent hours finding the equipment.”
The department was able to get equipment, McCarthy said, for each firefighter it has. Newer employees and those who are still going through certification process, who did not have equipment of their own, were able to get fresh pairs of boots. Each firefighter got a new traffic safety vest and new gloves, and some received helmets and other equipment. The department was also able to bring in some backup equipment, which McCarthy said will enable firefighters to return to action quicker should their existing equipment be damaged while on duty.
“The difficult thing is, if a firefighter damages their gear on a call, they’re stuck with that pair until the new things come in,” McCarthy said. “We’re trying to make it so a firefighter has no downtime while waiting for new equipment to come in.”
Nomex hoods, which are heat-protective and flame-retardant, were also a big part of the grant. Each firefighter must have those hoods in pairs, because they must be washed in between shifts to remain effective.
McCarthy said he appreciated the state’s support of its fire departments through the grants.
“I appreciate Michigan recognizing that those dollars go a long way in public service,” McCarthy said. “And also, a huge shout-out to Lt. Nilsson for doing the legwork.”
