Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $104,500 in federal funding for the Victor Volunteer Fire Department to purchase new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. This will allow them to respond to emergencies safely and more effectively. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
“This federal funding is so important for the Victor Volunteer Fire Department,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Our firefighters put their lives on the line on behalf of our safety, and we need to make sure they have the right tools for the job. This grant will help give them the resources they need so they can operate safely and efficiently, and save more lives.”
“The award will provide our volunteers with the equipment needed to keep them safe and allow us to provide better firefighting and rescue services to the residents of Victor,” said Joe Murphy, Assistant Fire Chief. “Without this grant, it would take several years along with an increase in fire taxes to purchase this much needed safety equipment. The Victor Fire Department would like to thank Senator Gillibrand for her continued support of this grant program.”
The Victor Fire Volunteer Department serves the Village of Victor, a portion of the Town of Victor, and the Victor Central School Campus, and is supported by 55 volunteer fire fighters. They will use the federal funding to replace their current Self Contained Breathing Apparatus that are outdated. The Victor Volunteer Fire Department responded to 300 calls in 2011, a 10 percent increase from 2010.
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.