Varna Fire Department secures grant to purchase exhaust removal system

The Varna Volunteer Fire Company has once again secured a FEMA grant, as the department furthers its mission for members to work in a healthy and safe environment.

The department announced that it received a $76,188 grant, through FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, to purchase a vehicle exhaust removal system.

According to a release, FEMA’s AFG program is a “vital source of financial support for fire departments across the nation. Its primary mission is to provide funding that enhances the operational capabilities and safety of local fire departments and emergency medical service organizations. Through a competitive application process, departments secure the resources needed to protect their communities effectively.”

The release noted that the vehicle exhaust removal system “is essential in reducing the exposure of firefighters to hazardous diesel exhaust fumes, which are known to contribute to cancer and other serious health conditions.”

The release continued by stating that by installing the system, Varna firefighters are “taking a proactive step in safeguarding our responders from the long-term health risks associated with repeated exposure to toxic exhaust emissions. This enhancement aligns with our ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all members.”

Nikola Danev, deputy chief of the Varna Fire Department, said the organization wanted to focus on making improvements in its station, noting that diesel and exhaust fumes are the leading cause of cancer in firefighters.

“When our trucks are at the station and when we back them in, there’s a lot of diesel fumes and exhaust that comes out,” Danev said. “Moreover, we keep our gear in the truck bases. If you have a diesel truck running with the gear, all those cancer-causing particles get absorbed into the gear, and we end up wearing it when we do our jobs. It exposes others to the particles.”

Danev said the exhaust removal system magnetically attaches to the exhaust pipes for all of Varna’s first responder vehicles. The system extracts all of the “harmful” particles that the members breathe inside the station, Danev said, adding that the particles don’t “get to the gear.”

The system spans the entire top of the station’s garage, Danev said, and inlets “drop down” for each of the vehicles. Danev said the system will be installed within the next month.

Varna’s station houses seven first responder vehicles, Danev said.

“Firefighter health and safety has been our number one priority,” Danev said. “If the first responders aren’t safe, then they’re not able to respond and won’t be able to help anyone. It’s been part of the strategic vision we’ve had in terms of what we want to focus on and improve.”

Danev added, “The alignment between our strategic goal and of the federal government’s goals helped us to successfully get this grant.”

Last year, the Varna fire department  received $121,000, also through FEMA’s AFG program, to purchase 16 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs).

“[The SCBAs] have been huge for us because they’re far more lightweight and smaller than what we’ve had,” Danev said. “Our vehicles were overloaded. We’re replacing all of the old SCBAs so we take fewer things off the vehicles.

In terms of practical usage, Danev said the SCBAs have been used at a few fire calls. Danev noted that the SCBAs have a “buddy air” system, which allows a pair of firefighters to share the air from the apparatus.

“We’ve enhanced our training capacity, as well, where we now can pull off the maneuver safely,” Danev said.

The release stated that the continued support from FEMA “allows [Varna] to make substantial advancements in our equipment and facilities, ensuring that our firefighters are protected both on the scene and within our fire station.”

Danev said that the Varna Volunteer Fire Company currently has 82 active members. About 30 of them are firefighters; 10 are emergency medical technicians (EMT), and the rest are either fire police members or supportive members for administrative functions. 

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

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The drop-in fee for the session is $10. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Some experience is helpful but not required, as the sessions are committed to being accessible.

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For information or questions, contact Dardia at dollysdaughter@hotmail.com or 607-279-4785.

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