Hartland Firefighters Receive Grant Money for New Certification and Training Program

The Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority was one of eight Michigan departments to receive a federal grant as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

According to a press release from Senator Carl Levin, the Hartland Fire Department will receive more than $51,000 for operations and safety improvements and will include an in-house certification and training program.  

“The main purpose of the grant was to assist in getting some management training done," said Hartland Fire Chief Adam Carroll, "including building a simulation lab to help better prepare and train our commanders on incident management."

The computer-modeling simulation lab will be located in-house and will provide interactive training sequences that will create possible situations for firefighters and adapts to the decisions made by the users.

“It’s about as close as you could possibly get to training for an incident without actually setting something on fire,” he said.

Carroll says they hope to have the new program and interactive-simulation lab installed and running by next fall.

The eight communities selected will receive a total of more than $1.3 million in federal grants to help with vehicle purchases and operations costs, according to a press release from Michigan Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow.

“Our first responders put their lives on the line every day in communities throughout Michigan depend on the protection our firefighters provide, and this funding will help them prepare for the dangers they face and to keep Michigan safe,” Levin said.

Eligible fire departments compete for program funding to help acquire vehicles or provide operations and safety improvements such as additional training or fitness programs, firefighter protective gear and supplies, according to the press release.

The Michigan departments receiving grants include:

• Albion Department of Public Safety, $950,000 for vehicle acquisition.
• Grayling Fire Department, $38,000 for operations and safety improvements.
• Rogers City Area Fire Department Authority, $95,760 for operations and safety improvements.
• Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority, $51,194 for operations and safety improvements.
• Mellen Township Fire Department, $28,837 for operations and safety improvements.
• Melvindale Fire Department, $47,803 for operations and safety improvements.
• Grand Haven Township Fire and Rescue, $55,100 for operations and safety improvements.
• Marengo Township Fire Department, $52,250 for operations and safety improvements.