U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $428,572 in federal funding for the Fulton Fire Department in Oswego County. The funding was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. Specifically, the Fulton Fire Department will use the federal funding to purchase a new fire engine.
“With this funding, the brave firefighters of the Fulton Fire Department will be even better prepared to answer residents’ calls for help as quickly and effectively as possible,” said Senator Schumer. “These heroes constantly put their lives on the line to save others. The least we can do is equip them with the top-notch equipment and resources they need. I’m committed to standing with them and to ensure that they get the tools they need to do their important, life-saving work.”
“These federal funds will help the Fulton Fire Department purchase a new fire engine to ensure they can respond to emergencies as quickly and safely as possible,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The first responders at the Fulton Fire Department put their lives on the line every day, and it’s our responsibility to make sure they have what they need to protect their communities while also protecting themselves. I was proud to write a letter of support for these vitally important federal funds, and I will continue to do everything in my power to make sure more of our local fire departments have the equipment and resources necessary to do their jobs.”
“The City of Fulton Fire Department is very grateful for this grant. It could not have come at a better time,” said Fulton Assistant Fire Chief David Eiffe. “We have been struggling in the last few years trying to keep older, failing apparatuses in service and on the road. The City of Fulton is facing challenging economic times, and expenses that are not confined to an already constricted budget are nearly impossible for the city to handle. This grant is going to fill a void in our engine bay and will ensure that we can keep the residents of the city safe for years to come. We are exactly the kind of department that relies on these grants to survive.”
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. More information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program can be accessed at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants.
###