2008 News

July 2, 2008

Bucks County Fire Marshal’s Office to Receive $40,100 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant from FEMA
 “Operation Safe Home” Award to Provide 10-Year Smoke Alarms to Low Income Families

The Board of Bucks County Commissioners, James F. Cawley, Chairman, Charles H. Martin and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW, are proud to join Chief Operating Officer David M. Sanko, county Fire Marshal Nicholas Rafferty and county Grants Coordinator Fonta Reilly to announce the approval of a 2007 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant application from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Through this funding, the “Operation Safe Home” project will allow the Fire Marshal’s office to provide between 400 and 500 at-risk, low income families throughout Bucks County with 10-year, lithium smoke alarms and fire-prevention awareness activities over the next year. These units also will be tamper-proof, providing additional public-safety benefit.

“We are extremely pleased that FEMA has chosen Bucks County as a recipient of this highly competitive award,” Chairman Cawley noted. “During fiscal year 2006, over 2,900 applications were submitted nationally, and only the top eight (8) percent were funded.”

According to Reilly and Rafferty, that percentage was even lower in Pennsylvania, as 211 applications were submitted and only the top five percent were funded. Nationally, only five of the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant awards have been directed to local fire marshal offices. Rafferty credited county Assistant Fire Marshal Mark Kramer for being “the driving force behind this grant.”

“I am excited because this is the first grant ever awarded to the Bucks County Fire Marshal’s office,” Rafferty added. “It will be of great assistance as we continue to attempt to maximize our community outreach. These smoke alarms will be placed in bedrooms, hallways and other living areas.”

Operation Safe Home will be coordinated with the Bucks County Health Department Safe Kids Coalition. Members of the Fire Marshal’s office are contacting fire companies throughout the county to advise them of the project and identify families in need of assistance.