Dubuque Racing Association Grant purchases Scene Radios
Firefighter equipped with an SCBA and the new direct radio.
Firefighter equipped with an SCBA and the new direct radio.
 
Firefighter Evan Mueller climbing a ladder while being able to communicate on the new radios purchased by the DRA
Firefighter Evan Mueller climbing a ladder while being able to communicate on the new radios purchased by the DRA
 
Firefighters perform search evolutions while communicating with the Incident Commander
Firefighters perform search evolutions while communicating with the Incident Commander
 
Firefighters communicate from the interior of a structure to the IC outside
Firefighters communicate from the interior of a structure to the IC outside
 
 
By Chief Thomas I. Berger
September 4, 2010
 

The Epworth Community Fire Department was awarded a 2010 Dubuque Racing Association Grant that allowed for the purchase of four portable and one vehicle radio to be used on the scene of fire and other emergencies. The radios will be used by crews on fire and emergency scenes to communicate with the Incident Commander while working on the interior of buildings. The radios will integrate with our 800 MHz radios on the direct radio to radio channel. The radios are less complex than the 800 MHz radios and they are designed for on scene radio to radio communications, especially for interior operations where it is difficult for our other radios to communicate with a tower site.

The $4,166.00 radio project was fully funded by the Dubuque Racing Association and to date the DRA has awarded over $44,000.00 to the Epworth Community Fire Department. The ECFD is the rural board of directors of the fire department who oversee the operations of the department. The ECFD works closely with the City of Epworth Mayor and Council to provide fire and EMS service to the surrounding Epworth area.