The Palm Coast Fire Department is thrilled to announce that it has successfully secured the Fiscal Year 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), valued at $57,294. This grant, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will support the training of nine Firefighter-EMTs, enabling them to attend paramedic training at a local public safety training center.
The AFG program, established in 2001, aims to equip firefighters and other first responders with essential resources and training to protect the public and emergency personnel from fires and related hazards. The Palm Coast Fire Department applied for this grant in March 2024, presenting a compelling proposal to fund the training costs for these crucial roles. The department received notification of its successful application in August 2024, with the Palm Coast City Council unanimously approving the acceptance of the AFG grant at the August 27 City Council Meeting.
As a non-transport, Advanced Life Support fire agency, the Palm Coast Fire Department maintains a minimum staffing requirement of at least one paramedic per frontline apparatus. Currently, 51% of its 74 full-time personnel are trained as paramedics. With this grant, the department will enhance its Advanced Life Support capabilities from 51% to 77% over the next two years. Firefighters will embark on a fourteen-month, four-semester paramedic program aligned with the National Standard Curriculum by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The addition of more paramedics will significantly enhance the department’s capacity to serve the community. With multiple paramedics collaborating seamlessly, tasks such as establishing intravenous access, administering medications, and providing airway interventions and cardiac monitoring become more efficient. This improved capability fosters resilience in handling unpredictable and dynamic situations, allowing for more effective delivery of pre-hospital medical care and a broader range of interventions.
Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Securing the Assistance to Firefighter Grant is a pivotal step for the Palm Coast Fire Department. This empowers us to equip our firefighters with life-saving skills and advanced training, enabling them to deliver a higher level of service to our community. The additional training of firefighters as paramedics underscores the life-saving potential this brings to our community.”
The AFG award program totals $57,294 and includes a cost-sharing arrangement of 90% federal funding ($52,085.45) and 10% local funding ($5,208.55). The first group of students will begin their paramedic training in January 2025 at Daytona State College and First Coast Technical College, marking a significant advancement in the department’s capabilities.