U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced nearly $645,000 in federal funding for seven fire departments in the Central NY region. This federal funding was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. Specifically, $141,667 in funding will be awarded to the New Haven Volunteer Fire Corporation in in Oswego County, $24,953 will be awarded to the Deerfield Fire District in Oneida County, $202,381 will be awarded to the McGraw Fire Department in Cortland County, $29,240 will be awarded to the Georgetown Volunteer Fireman’s Association in Madison County, $23,429 will be awarded to the Lake Delta Volunteer Fire Department in Oneida County, $47,110 will be awarded to the Trenton Joint Fire District in Oneida County and $175,722 will be awarded to the Village of Hamilton Fire Department in Madison County.
“It is critical that we provide our local fire companies with the most up-to-date resources and tools they need to keep our citizens safe and do their jobs effectively,” said Senator Schumer. “Our first responders are our local heroes and our primary line of defense – it is crucial we provide these fire districts with the cutting edge equipment and protective gear they need so they can continue to do their important work of saving lives.”
“We must ensure that our first responders who put themselves in harm’s way have the most up-to-date equipment they need to help save lives,” said Senator Gillibrand. “These federal grants will provide several Central New York fire departments with the necessary funding to purchase equipment firefighters need as they as they do their job protecting our community.”
The grant will enable the New Haven Fire Department to buy a new tanker. The Deerfield Fire District will replace outdated hoses on two fire engines. The Village of McGraw Fire Department will use the funds to purchase a pumper fire engine. The Lake Delta Volunteer Fire Department will purchase protective turnout gear. The Trenton Joint Fire District will replace fire hoses in their Barneveld and Holland Patent companies. Georgetown Volunteer Fireman’s Association will purchase 12 lead heart monitors for their ambulances, which will replace outdated devices. And the Village of Hamilton Fire Department will use the funds to replace dated breathing apparatuses.
“The tanker we have is 30 years old and we were struggling with how to replace it. This award will help us replace it,” said Chief Curtis Fischer, New Haven Fire Department.
“Most of our hoses date back to the early 1980’s and every year we were forced to take more and more hoses out of service. To replace the hoses with tax dollars would have placed a huge burden on the community,” said Chief Brian DeStefanis, Deerfield Fire District. “We are thankful for the grant and it will allow us to free up funds to replace and update other equipment.”
“We appreciate the grant. It is a tremendous help to our department,” said Chief Tom Heller, Village of McGraw Fire Department. “The amount we received is a lot of money for this department and this much needed funding will be put to good use.”
“We put in for the grant in the past and didn’t receive it. We’re happy to have gotten it this time and we will use it to buy new turnout gear for our firefighters,” said Chief Larry Tamburrino, Lake Delta Volunteer Fire Department.
“This AFG is extremely beneficial to our newly formed fire district. It will give us the ability to replace hoses that dates back to the 1980s,” said Chief Brian Healey, Trenton Joint Fire District.
“The Georgetown Fire Department and Georgetown residents really appreciate the AFG grant, and help from representatives, such as Senator Schumer, that make these things happen,” said Chief Dan Georgia, Georgetown Volunteer Fireman’s Association, Inc.
“We sought out the grant in order to replace our breathing apparatuses because of changing safety standards and the age of the equipment. We owe it to our members to provide them with the best equipment to keep them safe,” said Chief Brian Marks, Village of Hamilton Fire Department.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grants are administered by the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the Department’s United States Fire Administration. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis to the applicants that most closely address the program’s priorities and demonstrate financial need. Funding is allocated to strengthen the overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and related hazards. Funding is allocated to strengthen emergency preparedness and ability to respond to fire and related hazards. More information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program can be accessed at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/.