Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $46,693 in federal funding for the Dundee Volunteer Fire Department to upgrade their operations and safety measures to respond to emergencies more effectively. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
In November, Senator Gillibrand wrote to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate urging him to support the Dundee Volunteer Fire Department’s grant application for these upgrades.
“This funding will help equip the Dundee Volunteer Fire Department with the necessary upgrades and safety measures 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.
Dundee Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ray Miller said, “We are so grateful for receiving the grant for radios and pagers for the fire department. It will give us the needed equipment to upgrade the communications for our fire department and also for the Emergency Squad Ambulance. We wish to thank Senator Gillibrand”
The Dundee Volunteer Fire Department will use the federal funding to purchase 37 high band pages and 42 portable and mobile radios that will be used to increase safety and make their operations more streamline and efficient. The Dundee Volunteer Fire Department comprises 65 volunteer members who respond to over 550 emergency calls annually. They serve and protect the Village of Dundee, the town of Starkey, the majority of the Town of Barrington and a small part of the Town of Reading.
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.