Washington, DC – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,339,127 in federal funding for two fire districts in Monroe County. The Henrietta Fire District in West Henrietta will receive $669,182 and the Brighton Fire District in Rochester will receive $669,945. Both fire districts will use the funding to hire new firefighters. The funding was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program.
“Whether it’s a fire, flood, car accident, or when disaster strikes, we depend on these local heroes to keep us safe, and they depend on us to give them the resources they need to do their jobs effectively,” said Senator Schumer. “This funding will allow the Henrietta Fire District and Brighton Fire District to grow their ranks and will help ensure that the two fire districts can respond to any situation quickly and efficiently. I’m proud to announce this grant and will continue working to make sure New York’s first responders have what they need.”
“It’s vital that our fire departments have the staffing levels necessary to keep our first responders safe and to most effectively respond to emergencies in our communities. With this federal funding, the Henrietta Fire District and the Brighton Fire District will be able to add more members to their team,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Every day our first responders risk their lives to protect us, and I will always fight in the Senate to make sure our local fire departments have the support they need to do their jobs.”
“Receiving the $669,000 FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grant will allow the Henrietta Fire District to add firefighters as we outlined in our strategic plan, while having a minimal local impact on taxes. Our goal is to provide better service to the South West end of our town, where we are seeing a large population growth. Our thanks to Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for her assistance in helping us obtain this grant and her continued support of the American fire service,” said Mark Strzyzynski, Fire Chief of Henrietta Fire District.
“This grant will allow the Brighton Fire Department to make key enhancements to protect our community members, firefighters and first responders,” said Ted G. Aroesty, Executive Director of the Brighton Fire District. “Because of this grant, we can have a second firefighter on an engine that would typically only have one. With the resources to operate more efficiently, our department will be in a better position to further protect and serve our community. It ultimately makes the Brighton community safer at large. That’s our purpose and mission. On behalf of the Brighton Fire District, we sincerely thank Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand and her team for giving us this opportunity.”
The SAFER grant program was established by FEMA within the Department of Homeland Security to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. More information can be found here.