U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $468,590 in federal funding for four Southern Tier fire departments. Specifically, the Coopers Plains Long Acres Fire Department will receive $16,667, the Harpursville Fire Department will receive $157,720, the Spencer Fire Department will receive $208,096, and the West Corners Fire Department will receive $86,107. The funding was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The Senators said that the federal funding will be used to make various improvements at the four fire departments.
“It is essential that we provide our firefighters with the equipment they need to stay safe on the job,” said Senator Schumer. “Our first responders in the Southern Tier and across the state are our local heroes and our first line of defense for safety and security – it is critical that we do all we can to ensure that they are well equipped and prepared to take on any emergency.”
“Our firefighters and first responders defend and protect our communities, and we need to do everything possible to make sure that they have the resources necessary to stay safe and be prepared to respond to emergencies,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am excited to announce these Assistance to Firefighters grants for fire departments throughout the Southern Tier, and I will always fight in the Senate to make sure our local fire departments have the support they need.”
“We are very grateful to the Department of Homeland Security for awarding this grant. This grant allows us to minimize the exposure of our firefighters to cancerous toxins, that will both keep our firefighters safe, and extend the life of our gear. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant allows small fire departments like ours to use our budgets in the most effective way,” said Todd Hall, Fire Chief & EMT, Coopers Plains Long Acres Fire Department.
“It is awesome to be awarded this grant from FEMA. This is something that we have been looking to do for a long time. The health and safety of firefighters is a priority, and this grant allows us to improve the working conditions for our firefighters in the station.” said Neal Haight, Chief, West Corners Fire Department.
A breakdown of the federal grant awards is provided below:
|
Fire Department |
Grant Amount |
Description |
|
Coopers Plains Long Acres Fire Department |
$16,667 |
The Coopers Plains Long Acres Fire Department will use the funding to purchase a new washer and dryer for turnout gear, which will prevent firefighter’s equipment from being contaminated.
|
|
Harpursville Fire Department |
$157,720 |
The Harpursville Fire Department will use the funding to purchase a variety of tools for vehicle extraction.
|
|
Spencer Fire Department |
$208,096 |
The Spencer Fire Department will use the funding to purchase 20 sets of turnout gear and 16 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) devices.
|
|
West Corners Fire Department |
$86,107 |
The West Corners Fire Department will use the funding to install a new diesel exhaust system to remove diesel exhaust fumes from the station.
|
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant 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 found here.