Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $36,984 in federal funding for the Fort Covington Volunteer Fire Department to purchase new firefighting and rescue equipment that will help them respond to emergencies more effectively. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
“This is an important investment for the Fort Covington Volunteer Fire Department,” Senator Gillibrand said. “It is critical that our firefighters have the proper up-to-date tools as they respond to emergencies. This federal grant will help update their equipment so our first responders can act quickly, effectively and safely to emergencies in our communities.”
John Bashaw, Deputy Director, Franklin County Emergency Services said, “The Fort Covington Fire Department is grateful for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program and for funding these critical needs of our department that will greatly improve the safety of our firefighters. Our resident’s expectations of us are no different than the expectations of residents from larger communities. The fact that our revenues are modest, means only that we just have to work a little harder in our fund raising efforts and grant applications to make sure we have the tools to get the job done when the pager goes off. Our department is truly grateful for this award.”
The Fort Covington Volunteer Fire Department will use the federal funding to purchase new vehicle extrication equipment, a thermal imaging camera, and new water hoses. The Fort Covington Fire Department has 25 volunteer members who respond to approximately 360 calls annually.
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.