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Fact:

It is estimated that 93,000 firefighters in the United States do not have Personal Protective Clothing (PPE).

• Of those 93,000, in departments that have a population base of less than 10,000 people, 91,000 firefighters do not have PPE.
• On average, those that do have PPE, 66% of that PPE is over 10 years old.

Fact:

Converted vehicles account for an average of 14% of apparatus for departments protecting communities with less than 2,500 population.

• Because converted vehicles were not and are not designed for fire department use, it can be especially challenging to assure that they are safe and effective
• It essential that any vehicle, converted or not, be evaluated for its compliance with applicable standards, to avoid undue hazard or risk to the firefighters who operate it.

 

Fact:

In areas of the United States where the population base is below 10,000 residents there is a high percentage of fire departments that do not have enough Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for each firefighter on shift.

• In fact, 47% of firefighters with populations of 5,000 to 9,999 do not have an SCBA.
• In areas where the population base is 2,500 to 4,999 67% of firefighters do not have an SCBA, and under a 2,500 population base it then raises to 77% do not have SCBA.

Fact:

In areas of the United States where the population base is below 10,000 residents there is a high percentage of fire departments that do not have enough radios for each firefighter on shift.

• In fact, 59% of firefighters with populations of 5,000 to 9,999 do not have a radio.
• In areas where the population base is 2,500 to 4,999 71% of firefighters do not have a radio, and under a 2,500 population base it then raises to 74% do not have radios.

Fact:

Used vehicles accounted for an average of 40% of apparatus purchased by or donated to departments protecting communities with less than 2,500 population.

Fact:

Converted vehicles accounted for an average of 14% of apparatus used by departments protecting communities with less than 2,500 population.

Fact:

There are roughly 1.1 million active firefighters in the US, of which just under three-fourths (73%) are volunteer firefighters.

• Nearly half the volunteers serve in communities with less than 2,500 population.

Fact:

An estimated 42% of the volunteers serving in communities with less than 2,500 population serve in departments that are involved in structural firefighting but have not formally trained all involved firefighters in fighting structural fires.

Fact:

Roughly 14,000 fire engines (pumpers) (17% of all engines) are 15 to 19 years old, another 15,700 (19%) are 20 to 29 years old, and 10,900 (13%) are at least 30 years old.

• Therefore, roughly half (49%) of all engines are at least 15 years old.

Fact:

Among fire departments protecting communities with less than 2,500 population, at least 14% of departments are estimated to have no ladder/aerial apparatus but to have at least one building 4 stories high or higher in the community.

Fact:

An estimated seven-tenths to three-fourths of fire departments have at least some portable radios that are not water-resistant.

• An estimated three-fourths to four fifths of fire departments have at least some portable radios that lack intrinsic safety in an explosive atmosphere.
• The percentages are higher for small, rural communities.

Fact:

Three-fifths (59%) of fire departments have at least some SCBA units that are at least 10 years old.

Fact:

Two-fifths of departments (39%) lack a backup dispatch facility, including nearly half (46%) of departments protecting communities with less than 2,500 population.

Fact:

One-fourth (24%) of departments lack Internet access.