Madison Township Fire Chief Mike Lang has written three grants since he’s come to the department - but his first grant award, $116,375, was announced this week by both U.S. Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-04) and U.S. Senator Dick Lugar. He wrote the grant in the spring of 2006.

Lang said the funds came from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighter Grants Program (AFGP), which started in 2001. The program’s aim is to provide funding to enhance first responders’ ability to protect the health and safety of the public and their own personnel.

The U.S. Fire Administration, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administers the AFGP and assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States.

Lang said Congressman Buyer called him Wednesday evening to tell him about the grant award. The money can be used as soon as his board approves it.

“We’ll target three major areas with the funding. We want to install an exhaust system or tubes connected to our vehicles to clean out contaminants from the building,” Lang said. “Right now, we have to pull the engines out to service them, even in the winter. But this will allow us to keep them inside.”

Lang said they hope to purchase a thermo-imaging camera, which helps firefighters see through the smoke in a burning building.

“It will help expedite our building searches so we can find people inside during a fire,” he explained.

Another program on the front burner will be staff fitness.

“We’re looking at purchasing some fitness equipment and also bringing in a trainer to set up an exercise program for our employees,” Lang said. “Our full-time staff members expressed the desire to join the International Firefighters Association. This is a union, which has a Peer Fitness program. That’s where our firefighters can become certified as peer fitness trainers. It will allow us to have an in-house program where these people can train other employees.”

Lang said these changes would lower their health insurance rates, as well as ensure a fit and healthy staff.

“With a recent population influx, resulting in an increase in residences and businesses, Madison Township requires more resources to protect its citizens,” Buyer said. “This grant will go far to meet the needs of Morgan County.”