Due to the increasing demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) Aurora Fire Rescue has been awarded the Directorate's Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $124,340.
The award was issued in August and the department plans to spend the entire amount to cover the purchase of PPE this year. With over 25,000 medical calls this year, 939 of which were possible COVID-19 related calls, the increase in use of PPE has been beyond normal levels.
Aurora’s medical response volume continues to rise. The level of PPE required for these responses has been dynamic and difficult to keep up with due to vendor supply and pricing. The 2020 budget has been exhausted while trying to maintain these safety measures for not only our members, but the community’s health as well.
The number of hospitalizations and cases of the virus is again on the rise, and Aurora Fire Rescue continues to work in conjunction with Aurora’s Office of Emergency Management to continually assess the situation and prepare to met Aurora’s specific needs. The paramedics and EMTs of Aurora Fire Rescue are committed to providing compassionate and professional patient care during this unprecedented pandemic.
The department continues to direct resources as needed to ensure that personnel have the appropriate support to respond to our community in the safest way possible.
This grant will help to prevent the spread and cross contamination of COVID-19, providing PPE for the members responding to these emergencies. So far, 131 members of Aurora Fire Rescue have lost work time due to this virus and 8 have tested positive.
Aurora Fire Rescue is committed to seeking alternative funding sources through federal programs like the Assistance to Firefighters funding, as well as creating partnerships and other grants for alternative revenue streams during a time that the city budget is seeing significant cuts across departments.