Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer and Wayne Township Trustee Jeanie Stackhouse listen to Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory EMS Chief Chris Fancil speak during a March 7 WWFT board meeting. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory received permission to apply for a federal grant for a new Save-A-Life trailer during a March 7 WWFT board meeting.

EMS Chief Chris Fancil said the grant is available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program. The territory’s current Save-A-Life trailer is around 30 years old.

Fancil told the board applying for the grant would require a 5% match but noted the territory has funding to cover that amount. The trailer’s costs are currently being determined, with prices ranging from $65,000 to $200,000, depending on the type of trailer WWFT would want.

“(The trailer) has been a great resource for the entire county to use,” said Fancil. “You take it out, put it at an elementary school, the kids go through it, they learn how to escape a house (fire) and stay safe.”

Fancil said the application for the grant is due by March 31, with WWFT personnel meeting with a company on March 8 for further details on a quote for a trailer.

“I think it’s definitely worthwhile that the Save-A-Life trailer (we have), the return on investment on that has been pretty good,” said WWFT Board Member Brandon Schmitt. “I’d love to see the technology with one that’s available now and depending on details, I think it’d be a great thing to support.”

In other business, Firefighter Miles Waters requested permission to apply for a grant through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation and Kosciusko REMC Operation Round Up Fund. If awarded, the grant would be used for the purchase of eight thermal imaging cameras.

The cameras assist firefighters with finding victims, exits through smoke, car leaks, and hidden fires. Waters said the grant request would total $3,000, with WWFT covering the remaining cost of $1,700.

Waters said WWFT currently has three thermal cameras. Battalion Chief Mike Brubaker also noted the cameras are economical.

WWFT’s board approved the territory applying for the grant.

The board also gave Fancil permission to apply for the state’s opioid settlement match grant and permission to proceed with a contract from 1Eighty Digital. Both of these matters were brought before the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety for approval during a March 3 meeting.

WWFT plans to use the opioid grant for the expansion of the C.A.R.E.S. program. The contract with 1Eighty Digital is for the development and maintenance of a compiled resource management listing website for those in crisis.

The WWFT board’s next meeting is at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 4. New WWFT Chief Brian Mayo will be in attendance.