In an effort to bridge the gap between the fire department's budget and its needs, Lancaster City Bureau of Fire Chief Tim Gregg and several local business leaders have created a nonprofit organization.
The Lancaster City Fire Foundation will raise funds for equipment, promote fire safety and recruit firefighters from inside the city.
It hopes to generate $50,000 to $75,000 per year "to buy equipment that we might not be able to buy within the city budget limits," Gregg said.
"The police foundation has been so successful ... that we felt it was a good thing to emulate with the fire department," Mayor Rick Gray said.
The first big-ticket item on the foundation's wish-list is On-Scene Xplorer, software designed by Iron Compass Map Co. in Lancaster to increase firefighter safety.
The program is used on rugged laptops in emergency vehicles while en route to a call and while on the scene.
It shows street maps, building footprints, fire hydrant locations and facility information, such as hazardous material sites.
With a software license, hardware and installation, the bundles cost $8,600 each, said Iron Compass president John Fix. "But we'd probably offer them a pretty good discount."
For now, Gregg said, the fire bureau wants to install the program on about 10 computers the department already owns.
The licenses alone cost $1,500 each.
"There are those who would say that's the responsibility of the city to provide those funds," said Tracy Horst, owner of Progressive Property Management and foundation board member.
"But the fact is, there's never enough money to go around. The whole community has to get involved."
"We've talked to the city fire department about the software previously and they've been interested, but the budget was prohibitive," Fix said.
On-Scene Xplorer was released in May 2004. Lancaster County Haz-Mat 2, County-Wide Communications, and 20 county fire departments already use it, including Lancaster Township, Lampeter, Manheim Township, West Lancaster and Willow Street fire companies.
If the fire bureau buys the software, it will be able to share data with other fire companies that use it during mutual assistance — when one fire company responds to help another during an incident.
The Lancaster City Fire Foundation is modeled after another nonprofit, founded by actor Dennis Leary in Massachusetts in 2000, after his cousin died fighting a warehouse fire.
Many fire companies around the country have followed suit.
The foundation will hold its first fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at TMB Clothing for Men & Women, 36-40 N. Queen St.
A percentage of purchases will be donated to the foundation. (Customers must mention the fundraiser for the donation to be made.)
A 1938 Mack fire truck, retired from the city fire bureau in 1971, will be on display.
Food, drinks, and "5-Alarm Chili" will be available.
Jeannette Scott is a Sunday News staff writer. Contact her at jscott@lnpnews.com or at 291-8689. 
