By Kathleen D. Bailey
The Union Leader (Manchester NH)
Copyright 2007 Union Leader Corp.
All Rights Reserved
DEERFIELD, N.H. — Mark Tibbetts is going on a shopping spree: He’s looking for the best deal on fire protection gear for 15 of his 42 Deerfield Volunteer Fire Department members.
The Deerfield VFD is the recipient of a $95,000 Homeland Security check under the Fire Act Grant program. Fire Chief Tibbetts will use the money, more than the department has ever seen at one time, to replace the oldest gear used by his members.
According to Tibbetts, the money will be used for 15 sets of protective gear, 15 pairs of boots, 15 air packs, and breathing apparatus. The department’s matching portion of the grant is $4,775.
Tibbetts said in a phone interview that the department’s gear has been wearing out slowly, and he’s been replacing it slowly. The grant money will speed the process, and the replacement gear won’t have to come out of the department’s $39,200 budget. He expects to do most of the shopping through Globe Manufacturing of Pittsfield.
The application for a Homeland Security grant was several pages long, according to Tibbetts. Firefighters Matt Fisher and John Dubiansky assisted him with the chore.
“You have to justify your need for equipment, and a team of people review it,” Tibbetts said.
Tibbetts admits he’s on a roll. Three fire-related warrant articles were passed by the voters, in addition to the operating budget that contains his regular funding. On March 13, voters approved $200,000 for a fire suppression system at the town hall, $23,600 for a new parking lot between the fire station and the Philbrick-James Library, and $8,700 for new water conditioning systems at both fire stations, Old Center Road and the South Station on Birch Road.
He’s pleased but not surprised, saying, “Voters will usually go along with a request if you’re honest and tell the truth. And with the fire department, they get a lot of bang for their buck.”
He is still waiting for the check from Homeland Security and for a follow-up call from Senator Judd Gregg’s office.
Asked how he felt when he received notification of grant, he said, “How would you feel? I was ecstatic!”