DETROIT – Roughly $15 million was awarded to fire departments across Michigan for new turnout gear. It’s free money from the state, but municipalities needed to apply to be considered.
It turns out, Detroit didn’t even take the time to meet the application deadline.
Many Metro Detroit communities are celebrating the windfall of money handed out to help their fire crews pay for the protective clothing worn by firefighters when responding to calls. The money comes from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The Firefighter Turnout Gear Program aims to supplement fire crews with more turnout gear, leading to improved response times.
There are nearly 200 cities receiving funds from the state. Despite being a city that could really use the money, Detroit is not on the list.
Allen Park, Ferndale and Hazel Park are all receiving $70,000 each. Royal Oak and Southfield are both receiving about $181,000 each. Canon Township received $203,000, Ann Arbor received $234,000, and Macomb Township and Brownstown both received $101,500 each.
Grand Rapids received nearly 2/3rds of a million dollars and Lansing and Dearborn both received about half a million each.
You can see the full list of each community and how much they received here.
Despite being the largest city in the state -- and one in need of funds -- Detroit is not getting any money because the city didn’t even apply. Detroit firefighters are furious with the city.
It’s no secret that the Detroit Fire Department Commissioner responds after Detroit Fire Department orders firefighters out of apartment fire -- such as missing equipment on trucks. Even the Detroit fireboat was out of commission for weeks because it needed parts.
Firefighters are frustrated with Detroit Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms and his management team. They told Local 4 Investigators they need the equipment and that lives depend on it.
Local 4 Investigators reached out to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and asked why Detroit wasn’t on the list? And can Detroit still apply or is the money offered gone?
“That is correct, Detroit did not submit a grant application before the deadline. The grant application period has closed.”
They added that they believe Detroit was eligible to apply.
How does this happen? Millions of dollars were available to the city and Detroit didn’t even apply? Union insiders said they went to Lansing to fight for the money and sent reminders to the city about the deadline. They believe Detroit could have seen $3.5 million.
Commissioner Simms sent the following statement to Local 4:
“The city has landed several hundred millions of dollars in state and federal grants in the last three years by prioritizing our most critical needs. The Detroit Fire Department already provides every member with two sets of turnout gear to make sure they are properly equipped, however, we are evaluating whether this grant application should’ve been given higher priority.”
Detroit Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms
When asked, Mayor Mike Duggan said he “absolutely” still supports Commissioner Simms and stands by him.