Golder Ranch Fire District receives $200K Congressional Directives grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration

Acquisition of rapid extrication module support (rems) vehicle - Golder Ranch Fire District requests $200,000 in HRSA community project funding/congressionally directed spending to purchase a dedicated rapid extrication module support vehicle and associated movable equipment. The project will strengthen grfd’s ability to deploy a rems team for firefighter rescue, patient access, extrication, medical support, and communications during wildland fire and remote rescue operations. Rems teams consist of wildland firefighters cross-trained in technical rescue and are used to locate, access, stabilize, package, and extricate injured personnel in remote, rugged, and hazardous environments. Grfd currently lacks a dedicated rems vehicle, so existing apparatus must be shared with other operational functions. This can delay or prevent independent rems deployment when the shared vehicle is unavailable. Federal funds will be used to purchase one rems-capable vehicle, technical rescue equipment, and medical and communications equipment. The vehicle and equipment will be movable assets and will not involve construction, building expansion, renovation, fixed equipment, or permanent facility installation. This project will improve firefighter safety, reduce deployment delays, enhance rescue and extrication capabilities in remote wildfire environments, and support local and regional wildfire response throughout Arizona and the western united states.