Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $228,000 in federal funding for the Stanwix Heights Fire Department to purchase a new tanker fuel truck. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
“This is an important investment for Stanwix Heights firefighters,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Our first responders put their lives on the line day in and day out to keep us safe. We need to make sure that when they are going into harm’s way, they have the right resources for the job so they can respond to emergencies, protect our communities, and save more lives.”
Stanwix Heights Volunteer Fire Department Chief Steve Snow said, “This grant will be used to buy a new tanker replacing our 1974 tanker which was a fuel truck. We are very happy we got this grant and we as a fire department would like to thank Senator Gillibrand.”
The 30-member staff of the Stanwix Heights Fire Department covers approximately 24 miles between Rome, the town of Westmoreland and the town of Whitestown in Oneida 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.