Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $94,620 in federal funding for the City of Corning Fire Department to improve the safety of living spaces for firefighters. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
“We must ensure that our firefighters have safe facilities so that and effectively keep our communities safe,” Senator Gillibrand said. “The City of Corning Fire Department will install equipment to will prevent exhaust from their trucks from infiltrating the living quarters. I will continue to fight to ensure that all of our first responders have access to the proper tools required to maintain the highest standard of safety and excellence.”
City of Corning Fire Department Chief John M. Tighe said, “The City of Corning Fire Department is very pleased to accept the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for a Vehicle Exhaust System. This system will capture 100% of the exhaust from our vehicles to prevent the vehicle exhaust and fumes from entering our living space. The Firefighters Grant Program is an important source of funding for fire departments all over the country and we are very thankful to have been one of those recipients for 2011.”
The City Corning Fire Department will use this federal funding to install a vehicle exhaust system to remove engine exhaust from living spaces within the fire department. The City of Corning Fire Department employs 18 full-time and 12 part-time firefighters and serves a surrounding community of 13,000 people, responding to 1,400 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.