Resources and equipment
Pocket media guide
The Fire Department
Pocket Media Guide is a tool to help firefighters work with the media in their community. The guide includes interview tips as well as talking points for various types of fires. If you would like free copies of this guide for your department,
email Bruce West.
Minnesota Incident Command System
The Minnesota Incident Command System was created to enable agencies to support each other on large wildfire incidents. Today, these multi-agency teams respond to a need for coordination on floods, search and rescue, large gatherings and wildfires. For more information, check out the
MNICS website.
Volunteer recruitment and retention stipend pilot program
In 2014, the legislature passed a three-year, $500 Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Stipend Pilot Program. The program
provides an annual $500 stipend payment to volunteer or paid on call firefighters, ambulance attendants, and emergency medical responders that have provided service for fire departments or EMS organizations within the 14 county pilot area and meet the program qualifications.
This fact sheet explains more about the program and includes frequently asked questions.
For additional information on the program please contact Recruitment & Retention Coordinator Nanci Libor at
nanci.libor@state.mn.us or 612-270-6956.
Gear washer grants
In recent years, fire departments across Minnesota have implemented turnout gear decontamination
procedures post fire events to help reduce firefighter exposure to toxic combustion byproducts. Many fire departments, however, have found commercial turnout gear washer/extractors, which can cost upwards of $10,000, to be cost prohibitive. The State Fire Marshal Division has implemented a $200,000 matching award program to assist eligible fire departments in the purchase of commercial turnout gear washer/extractors. Contact Nanci Libor at nanci.libor@state.mn.us or 612-270-6956 for more information. Here is a list of the most recent grant recipients.
American Red Cross: Home fire risk map
The
Home Fire Risk Map is a planning resource to improve regional in-home and smoke alarm installation by helping to identify vulnerable communities across the country. To learn more about the Home Fire Campaign and how to use the Home Fire Risk map a
four step training tutorial has been created.
Materials generator
The Materials Generator is a new tool that allows departments to generate customized door hangers, fliers and activity guides using proven fire safety messages with your own department logo and contact information. The tool was developed by a team of fire safety and communications experts to help enhance your community risk reduction programs. You can find the
Materials Generator on the Vision 20/20 website.
Federal excess property
Need fire suppression equipment for your department? The federal government makes equipment available through its Federal Excess Property Program. You can find more
information about this program on the Minnesota DNR's website.
Shared Services Grants
The State Fire Marshal Division occasionally has money available for fire departments interested in studying the feasibility of sharing services among two more departments. You can read through some of the reports and
learn more about the shared services grant program online. You may also contact Kevin Sedivy, fire service specialist at
651-295-1639 or
kevin.sedivy@state.mn.us.
Kitchen fire safety trailers available
Through a grant from the MN FAIR Plan, the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association Public Education Committee has two Kitchen Fire Safety Live Demonstration Units available to fire departments across Minnesota.
Learn more on the MSFCA website.
Wildfire information and burning restrictions
Sparky the Fire Dog
Let Sparky the Fire Dog help you. Sparky the Fire Dog is perfect for teaching fire and life safety to children because it can communicate with them on their level.
Resources for your community
Burn Institute's interactive website
The Burn Institute's Fire Safe Kid website is a fun, interactive place for kids to learn all about fire and burn prevention.
Keep away!
Keep away is a fun activity designed to reinforce the message that lighters and matches are tools only for grown-ups -- not toys -- and to help them develop visual memory skills.
Firetrap
Firetrap is a game designed to teach children to quickly get out of the house in case of a fire.