NH department gets insurer grant for data, preplanning

By Jillian Jorgensen
The Union Leader

GOFFSTOWN, N.H. — The fire department has received a $2,500 grant for fire prevention from FM Global, a Rhode Island-based property insurer, the department announced yesterday.

The money will be used to assist with "pre-fire" planning, Fire Chief Richard O'Brien said. Data will be collected and tracked from local community buildings, which will help firefighters respond during emergencies.

The insurance company awards competitive grants on a quarterly basis to departments after considering what department most needs the funding and where the money will have the greatest impact on preventing, preparing for and controlling fires, the company said in a news release.

"What we're going to use it for is a computerized software that will help us for pre-planning," O'Brien said.

The department will order software that will store data about "hazardous areas in town," O'Brien said, so if there is an emergency at one of those locations firefighters can rapidly find out specific circumstances at the building, the nearest hydrant, who to call and other important information.

"It's a foundation, so we can get this critical data started and get it implemented," he said about the grant.

The department will collect the information about local buildings itself.

"Typically, we try to get out every year or so to do an annual safety inspection anyway, a fire safety inspection," he said. "During that annual process we'll be getting this data."

Eventually, the department hopes to have the software installed on laptops in every first response apparatus.

"Once we get a good amount of data in there, the next part of the project will be getting those laptops" on emergency vehicles, he said.

FM Global insures businesses and has contributed "millions of dollars" to prevent fires, which is the leading cause of commercial and industrial property damage, according to the news release.

"At FM Global, we believe the majority of property damage is preventable — not inevitable — and we are pleased to make funding available to organizations, like the Goffstown Fire Department, that share the same philosophy," said Michael Spaziani, manager of FM Global's grant program.

In addition to commercial and industrial structures, the software can also be used to collect information on any potentially hazardous residential structures as well.

"Whatever data that might be important to know when responding to a residence, we can put it in there," O'Brien said.

Copyright 2009 Union Leader Corp.
All Rights Reserved