Firefighters’ fitness program receives federal grant

Mathis Winkler

Friday, Sept. 21, 2001 | 8:29 a.m.

The North Las Vegas Fire Department will receive $110,600 in federal funds to set up a health and fitness program for its 100 employees.

The department will use the money to bring in nutrition consultants and personal trainers to work with individual employees, said Terri Tarbett, who helped with the grant application.

"We want to prevent injury through healthier living to begin with," Tarbett said, adding that the city has to contribute about $30,000 in matching funds to the program.

The grant will also pay for up to $40,000 in fitness equipment, which will be located at a new fire station that will open soon near the intersection of Losee and Frehner roads, Tarbett added.

The funds come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and were approved by Congress last year.

The agency received more than 19,700 grant applications and gave money to 224 fire departments according to their financial needs.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., who announced the award of the grant, said last week's terrorist attacks made clear the dangers firefighters face on the job.

"This funding will help our North Las Vegas fire crews cope with the physical and mental stresses that are such a huge part of their jobs," Berkley said in a prepared statement. "Hopefully, these funds will help prevent firefighter injuries, and make their jobs a little safer."