Agenda Item Wording:
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Fire Department grant application confirmation - Confirm authorization for staff to apply for the fiscal year 2026 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) for the replacement purchase of standardized rescue personal protective equipment and life-safety rescue rope, in the amount of $18,225; authorize staff to accept the grant and appropriate funds if awarded.
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Prepared by: Fire Chief Dan Griswold, 713-4220 dan.griswold@visalia.gov; Battalion Chief Karl Krauss, 713-4544 karl.krauss@visalia.gov; Crissy Balderama, Senior Administrative Analyst 713-4513 crissy.balderama@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends City Council confirm authorization for personnel to apply for the 2026 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) for the purchase of standardized rescue personal protective equipment and life-safety rescue rope in the amount of $18,225. Staff also recommends Council authorize staff to accept the grant and appropriate funds if awarded.
Summary: Fire Administration recommends applying for the SHSGP to replace current rescue equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) that is currently past the recommended service life or that is expected to meet the service life by the time of the grant award. New PPE recommended is long sleeve shirts recommended by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) for technical rescue operations.
Background Discussion:
As part of the department’s all-hazard responsibility, the Visalia Fire Department has trained personnel and the necessary equipment to respond to the technical rescue needs of the community and surrounding area. Technical rescue potential in Visalia includes, but is not limited to, entrapments and entanglements at industrial, construction, and agricultural sites and operations. Other rescue potential includes trench and confined space rescue, machinery extrication, and entrapments and entanglements at the large structures of the industrial park during construction and during normal operations.
During the last several years, the Fire Department has experienced personnel turnover yielding the opportunity, and the priority, to train and equip personnel in technical rescue. Rescue team members are equipped with a rescue helmet, rope gloves, utility gloves, a rescue belt, goggles, a headlamp, a long-sleeve shirt, and a gear bag. If approved and accepted, this grant opportunity would equip 16 personnel with the appropriate, current PPE. Fire Administration is also recommending using this grant opportunity to replace current rescue life-safety ropes are expected to meet their life expectancy within the funding period of the grant.
Fire Administration’s plan is to properly train and equip newer members to serve on the department’s rescue team. These personnel are, in part, assigned to Truck 51 which is the fire apparatus that carries the current rescue equipment. Rebuilding the roster of properly trained personnel will enhance safety and efficiency when these high risk, low frequency incidents occur in the City of Visalia and the surrounding area. Increasing the number of qualified and competent technical rescue team members for Visalia, and in the area, aligns with the HSGP’s Investment Justification - Enhance Multi-Jurisdictional/Inter-Jurisdictional All- Hazards/Whole Community Incident Planning, Response & Recovery Capabilities and therefore qualifies for funding through this grant.
State Homeland Security Grant funding, if awarded, would reduce the financial impact to the City’s General Fund while allowing the Fire Department to strengthen its technical rescue capabilities.
The history of the SHSGP is, following the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, the State of California and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security established grant programs to assist state and local agencies with emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities. Since 2001, the Tulare County Office of Emergency Services has served as the intermediary recipient of these funds, disbursing allocations to cities and local agencies based on regional needs.
Fiscal Impact: If approved, staff requests authorization to appropriate $18,225 from the General Fund for the purchase of the rescue personal protective equipment and life-safety rescue rope. If awarded, these funds will be reimbursed through the State Homeland Security Grant Program administered by the Tulare County Office of Emergency Services.
Prior Council Action: N/A
Other: N/A
Alternatives: Deny the request to apply for the 2026 State Homeland Security Grant Program and consider this project during a future capital improvement program budget.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
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I move to confirm authorization for personnel to apply for the 2026 State Homeland Security Grant Program for the purchase of rescue personal protective equipment and life-safety rescue rope in the amount of $18,225; and authorize staff to accept the grant and appropriate $18,225 from the General Fund if awarded.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 1/20/2026
Attachments: Fiscal year 2025 State Homeland Security Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity.