Fire Safety Survey Participation Could Benefit Waukee Fire Department

Imagine what the Waukee Fire Department would be like without having the proper tools firefighters need to do their jobs.

In the current economic crisis, that's the scenario being played out among many fire stations across the country. With city revenue dwindling in some areas, fire departments are feeling the burn, so to speak, of a lack of the necessary funding and resources they need to provide emergency services.

Liberty Mutual Insurance is trying to alleviate the stresses of the current economic downturn by presenting the Be Fire Smart Safety Pledge Program. The program will provide grants totaling $100,000 to selected U.S. fire departments based on citizens' participation in the "Burning Questions" survey at BeFireSmart.com. The 10 departments with the most completed quizzes will each earn a $10,000 grant from Liberty Mutual.

"We are always in a constant state of fundraising," said Waukee Fire Chief Clint Robinson. "There's always a litany of stuff we need. This is an easy way to help out the fire department without it coming out of pocket."

Robinson said the fire department is in need of instruments that measure carbon monoxide poisoning in people. Each of the machines costs about $5,000 and the department would ideally purchase two to have on hand in the event they would need them on a call.

"We have monitors that monitor the carbon monoxide in the air, but not in people," Robinson said. "Right now, we have no way to diagnose that in the field."

Waukee residents can help the fire department get closer to the grant by going to BeFireSmart.com and taking the "Burning Questions" quiz. The quiz will be available until Oct. 31.