Title
Resolution Approving Donation of Gear to the Virginia Emergency Services Assistance Program for Belize d/b/a Belize Heroes, New Horizons Regional Education Centers, and Bethel High School Academy of Law and Public Safety
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue (HDFR) is in possession of Firefighting Ensembles and Coats that have been made obsolete by regulatory changes, but can still be donated to organizations in need and for training purposes. This resolution proposes to donate the obsolete gear to three different organizations that can still use it.
Discussion:
HDFR would otherwise destroy the obsolete items and donating them will support close partnerships with local training academies and a Virginia nonprofit. Ten Firefighting Ensembles and four Firefighting Coats would be donated to the Virginia Emergency Services Assistance Program for Belize d/b/a Belize Heroes, three Firefighting Ensembles to the Bethel High School Academy of Law and Public Safety, and nine Firefighting Ensembles to New Horizons Regional Education Center.
Impact:
HDFR would otherwise destroy the obsolete items and donating them will support close partnerships with local training academies and a Virginia nonprofit.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve
Body
WHEREAS, the Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue (“HDFR”) has 22 complete Firefighting Ensembles and four Firefighting Coats that have been made obsolete for firefighting purposes by changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) and the National Fire Protection Association’s (“NFPA”) recommended standards;
WHEREAS, the Firefighting Ensembles can still be used for training purposes and in jurisdictions where OSHA and NFPA standards are not recognized;
WHEREAS, the country of Belize does not recognize or adhere to OSHA or NFPA standards and its resource-challenged firefighters would benefit from the donation of Firefighting Ensembles and Firefighting Coats;
WHEREAS, Virginia Emergency Services Assistance Program for Belize d/b/a Belize Heroes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that collects fire equipment donations from Virginia localities to provide to the Belize National Fire Service;
WHEREAS, New Horizons Regional Education Centers and the Bethel High School Academy of Law and Public Safety would benefit from the use of the Firefighting Ensembles for training purposes; and,
WHEREAS, HDFR has a strong interest in maintaining close partnerships with local training academies and general comradery, and would otherwise destroy the obsolete items;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAMPTON, VIRGINIA as follows:
That City Council hereby approves the donation of up to 22 Firefighting Ensembles and Four Firefighting Coats; ten Firefighting Ensembles and four Firefighting Coats to the Virginia Emergency Services Assistance Program for Belize, three Firefighting Ensembles to Bethel High School Academy of Law and Public Safety, and nine Firefighting Ensembles to New Horizons Regional Education Centers; and, authorizes the City Manager or Fire Chief to enter into any agreements necessary to effectuate the donation.