Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $91,401 in federal funding for the Village of Nanuet Fire Department to purchase new protective and communication equipment to respond to emergencies more effectively. The money was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG).
In October, Senator Gillibrand wrote to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate urging him to support Nanuet Fire District’s grant application for these new resources.
“This funding will help equip the Nanuet Fire Department with the necessary upgrades and tools that are essential to saving lives,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I will continue working to ensure that our first responders and community residents have the resources they need to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
“The AFG grant has made a tremendous impact on the department,” said Commissioner Vincent Pacella of the Nanuet Fire District. “Our turnout gear and SCBA’s were reaching their life expectancies so it has been a great help. Our goal is to remain OSHA and NFPA compliant, and with the help of the grant, we can continue to provide our members with the best and up to date equipment available. The new radios will help with the interoperability between police, ambulance, and fire departments in Rockland County.”
The Nanuet Fire Department will use the federal funding to purchase Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Cylinders, SCBA Masks, helmets, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), coats, pants, boots and gloves, as well as portable and mobile radios. The Department serves the communities of Nanuet and Bardonia which includes 2 miles of the New York State Thruway. The Nanuet Fire Department is supported by over 100 volunteer firefighters who respond to an average of 500 calls annually and provide mutual aid to surrounding communities in Rockland County.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, established by FEMA within the Department of Homeland Security, is part of an effort to increase the nation’s emergency response preparation. This program provides federal funding to first responder organizations for the acquisition of personal protective equipment, firefighting vehicles, and emergency response equipment. The funds also help provide emergency response trainings.