Town of Wellston - AFG 2024

Fire safety grants fund critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel, enhance efficiencies and support community resilience. 

Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. 

The Wellston Fire Department with the support of the Town of Wellston Board Members have submitted an two AFG applications. One application for a Mini-Pumper Quick Attach vehicle and a Tanker/Tender vehicle.  One application for P-25 Mobile Communication Radios.

The Wellston Fire Department is an all-volunteer fire department staffed with 13 volunteers, men and women, who are proud to serve their community. The department is led by Chief Todd Beesley, Assistant Chief Austin Griggs, and Captain Brian Piatt. 

The Town of Wellston is a small rural community in Oklahoma. Located in western Lincoln County, Wellston is north of Interstate 44 (Turner Turnpike) and State Highway 66 (Oklahoma Route 66), two miles east of State Highway 102, and two miles west of State Highway 177. The Town of Wellston represents a small portion of the service area for the Wellston Fire Department. According to the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), the Town of Wellston's population is 749, an increase from the 2020 United States Census Bureau's 679. According to land mass, 2.5% of the service area is the Town of Wellston, which includes infrastructure that was developed in 1910. While fire hydrants exist, they cannot provide the necessary water supply to protect the community adequately. Most of the service area (97.5%) is agricultural, and there is no available water source such as a fire hydrant. Therefore, tanker and pumper trucks are required. The Town of Wellston is located in Lincoln County, a county in eastern Central Oklahoma. Lincoln County is the Wellston Fire Department mutual aid or auto aid area. The population of this mutual aid is 33,458. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 966 square miles. This increases the demand for tankers and pumpers that can assist neighboring agricultural communities with no fire hydrants. 

The Wellston Fire Department is experiencing significant financial distress, which directly aligns with the objectives of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The department is facing multiple challenges that hinder its ability to adequately protect the community, including budget constraints, unsuccessful attempts to secure other funding, and financial pressures beyond its control. 

1. Budget Constraints - Limited Funding from Local Sources: As a small, rural fire department, the Wellston Fire Department operates on a tight budget that primarily relies on limited local funding from the Town of Wellston and county allocations. The town’s overall budget is constrained due to its small population and limited tax base, which restricts the amount of revenue that can be dedicated to public services such as fire protection. 

2. Increasing Costs - The cost of maintaining fire department operations, including equipment maintenance, fuel, training, and personnel expenses, has steadily increased in recent years. These rising costs have strained the department’s already modest budget, forcing difficult decisions about prioritizing essential services over critical upgrades and new equipment purchases. 

3. Unsuccessful Attempts to Secure Other Funding - Limited Local Fundraising Capacity: Due to the town’s small population and rural setting, fundraising efforts to generate additional revenue for the fire department have been limited in scope and effectiveness. 

4. Grant Applications - The Wellston Fire Department has applied for various state and federal grants in the past, but many of these applications have been unsuccessful due to the highly competitive nature of these programs. The lack of success in securing alternative funding has exacerbated the financial challenges faced by the department. Recently, the Town of Wellston completed the competitive bid process to secure a Grant Administrator who would partner with the Town to research grant, work with the various departments to complete the application process, complete the procurement process, manage the project, and ensure a successful close out process. Five Tool Management Consulting was awarded the competitive bid with a professional services agreement and engagement letter. This is the first for the Town of Wellston. 

5. Volunteer-Driven Department - The Wellston Fire Department relies heavily on volunteer firefighters, which helps reduce personnel costs. However, this volunteer model limits the department’s ability to generate revenue through paid services or municipal contracts, further straining its financial resources. 

6. Financial Distress Beyond Control Rural and Agricultural Economic Base - The Town of Wellston’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture and small businesses, both of which have faced economic pressures in recent years. Droughts and fluctuating agricultural markets have affected local farmers, reducing the town’s overall tax revenue and limiting the funds available for public services, including the fire department. 

7. Population Size and Growth - With a population of less than 800 people, Wellston’s small tax base cannot generate sufficient revenue to support the growing needs of its fire department. Although the town has seen some slow growth, it remains financially difficult to allocate more funds toward public safety without cutting other essential services. 

8. Specific Areas of Financial Need Communications Equipment - The department is in need of P-25 multi-band mobile radios, which are crucial for effective communication with neighboring departments and agencies during emergencies. The lack of interoperable communications equipment puts both responders and residents at risk. 

The Wellston Fire Department’s financial challenges are beyond its control, and the AFG Program is designed to assist departments like the Wellston Fire Department that are unable to secure sufficient funding from local or state sources. 

The Wellston Fire Department would like to thank everyone who signed the support letter and submitted a letter of support for the AFG program. The Wellston Fire Department will hear if they were awarded the grant funds in April of 2025. The total amount requested is $998,751.12.