On Friday, April 5th, 2013 the Westwood Fire Company was extremely fortunate to receive a Regional Grant through the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to purchase a mobile driver training simulator.

With our regional partners at the Sadsburyville Fire Company, Glen Moore Fire Company, Cochranville Fire Company, and Honey Brook Fire Company, we will purchase a computerized simulator which can be transported to various locations to allow firefighters throughout our area to train on how to safely operate our apparatus.

Accidents involving fire apparatus can cause extreme devastation to a fire department and the community. This unique piece of equipment will provide a safe and comfortable environment for personnel to understand the dynamics of operating such large vehicles.

Currently, there are no such simulators within Chester County and very few located throughout Pennsylvania. The total awarded amount is $165,250.

Later this month, Chief Sly will fly to Indianapolis, Indiana to attend the Fire Department Instructors Conference to conduct assessments of four potential vendors and their products and recommend a purchase to the committee established to execute this project.

The Westwood Fire Company has also filed for grant funding assistance through the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to purchase EMS equipment and we continue to await the disposition of that application to address other needs for our Company.

In 2012, nearly 12,000 applications were submitted for funding and only an estimated 15% of those will actually receive funding. We are very fortunate to receive an award through this highly competitive program.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the department's Directorate for Preparedness through its Office of Grants and Training in cooperation with the United States Fire Administration, also a division of the Preparedness Directorate.