U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $27,104 in federal funding for the Winchester Fire Company in West Seneca Fire District 1 (WSFD) in Erie County, N.Y. The funding was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The funding will be used to purchase three new thermal imaging cameras that will protect WSFD firefighters from unseen dangers by detecting hot spots in structure fires.
“It is essential that we provide our firefighters with the tools they need to do their jobs effectively,” said Senator Schumer. “Our first responders are our local heroes and our primary line of defense for safety and security. With these new thermal cameras, the WSFD firefighters of West Seneca will be well equipped and prepared to take on any emergency.”
“Every day, our first responders are exposed to dangerous conditions as they risk their lives to protect their communities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This federal funding will allow the Winchester Fire Company to purchase equipment that will help keep our firefighters safe, and I will always fight to make sure that our local fire departments have the resources they need to safely and efficiently respond to emergencies in their community.”
“We really want to thank Senator Schumer for his years of support for the AFG program. It’s tremendously beneficial to small departments like ours’ and to the taxpayers of the Town of West Seneca. The grant will bring us into NFPA compliance and help keep our firefighters and the public safe.” said Tom Gasiewicz, Secretary and Commissioner of the Winchester Fire Company.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program is 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. More information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program can be accessed at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants.