Discussion and Consideration of City of Tiffin providing Matching Grant Funds for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fire Department Grant Application and Council Action as Needed

Iowa DNR Forestry - Fire Program Opportunities The DNR Forestry - Fire Program, in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service, State, Private and Tribal Forestry and other federal, state and local partners, work to provide assistance to the rural volunteer fire departments through a variety of programs and activities in an effort to provide quality fire protection to the state’s natural resources. Programs: State Fire Assistance (SFA) - Works to protect natural resources from fire on state and private lands through: fire prevention, suppression and fuels management education; training and outreach opportunities. • Wildland Fire Prevention Educational and Program Materials: The DNR Forestry - Fire Program is Iowa’s source of Smokey Bear materials. Smokey Bear costumes are available for loan. We offer a wide range of Smokey Bear promotional items appropriate for Wildfire Prevention Program audiences of all ages. (Examples of items available: coloring pages, activity books, rulers, balloons, stickers, tattoos, posters, pencils, label pins, etc.) For assistance, contact [email protected]. • Wildland Fire and Prescribed Fire Training: The DNR Forestry - Fire Program staff work to provide wildland fire and prescribed fire training to Natural Resource Managers and Volunteer Fire Department personnel. The following 8-hour courses are available: DNR - ATV/UTV - Fire Operations & Tactics DNR - VFD Wildland Fire Operations DNR - VFD Wildland Fire Engine Operations & Tactics DNR - Prescribed Fire For additional information, email [email protected]. • Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Prevention and Awareness: The DNR Forestry - Fire Program, the US Forest Service and a wide range of other federal, state, and local partners are working to encourage homeowners and communities to be proactive in identifying and mitigating situations that may prevent effective fire protection in the rural and wildland-urban interface locations. Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) - Improves the capability of Iowa’s rural volunteer fire departments to protect lives, structures, and natural resources in rural and wildland/urban interface areas. VFA Grants work to offset the costs of wildland fire equipment and personal safety gear to existing fire departments and to support the organization of new fire departments in unprotected communities (Grants are 50-50 cost-share; maximum allocation per department is $4,500/year). Grant applications are available at www.iowadnr.gov/fire. Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) - Federal excess property is acquired on behalf of the US Forest Service and loaned to state forestry agencies and their cooperators (volunteer fire departments) for their use in providing wildland and rural community fire protection. To obtain available equipment, Fire Departments must enter into a formal Cooperative Agreement with the DNR Forestry - Fire Program and the USFS. Once fire departments obtain the equipment, they are expected to paint it and modify it to best fit their needs, in accordance with the agreement and safety guidelines. Fire departments bear the cost of transportation, conversion, painting, storage and maintenance. The equipment usually requires some conversion, but the cost is much less than the purchase of comparable equipment. Fire Departments are responsible for making conversions in a safe and timely manner; protecting the equipment from theft, vandalism, and weather; painting vehicles in fire service colors; maintaining appropriate liability