U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Tim Bishop and Congressman Steve Israel today announced $159,000 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding for the Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services. The funding is being awarded under the FY 2012 Fire Prevention and Safety Program, an initiative included in the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services will be using the funding to purchase an all hazard smart fire safety and emergency trailer.
“With this funding, firefighters in Suffolk County can focus on their important work knowing that they have the most up-to-date training tools,” said Schumer. “This investment for a new emergency training trailer will help ensure that our local heroes can respond under a variety of emergency conditions and can continue their life-saving work on Long Island.”
“This is an important investment for Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services,” said Senator Gillibrand. “It’s our responsibility to ensure our first responders have the most up-to-date equipment to serve our communities. The emergency training trailer will help Long Island’s first responders upgrade equipment so that they can respond to emergencies in the community more efficiently and effectively, and help save more lives.”
“This all-hazard trailer will be a powerful new training tool to ensure our brave first responders are prepared to protect the public in any emergency,” said Congressman Bishop. “I am proud that federal support will deliver this necessary upgrade to Suffolk County FRES to help them with their vital work.”
Rep. Israel said, “Every day, the firefighters in Suffolk County put their lives on the line to protect us. My colleagues and I fought for this federal funding to help provide our first responders with the tools they need to keep themselves and our community safe. The Fire Safety Training Trailer will enable our firefighters to properly prepare for various scenarios they may face when fighting fires.”
“I am thankful to our Federal representatives and the FEMA grant administration for awarding Suffolk County a $159,000 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant,” said County Executive Bellone. “We need to lead our communities to be better prepared and build a culture of resilience. The current economic climate would never allow us to provide this project, and bring the lifesaving educational programs and resources to our region.”
“This critical funding will afford us the ability to assist our first responders in public education and prevention,” said Joe Williams, Commissioner of Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services. “As seen in the recent disasters, the key to minimizing negative outcomes is capacity building within our community.”
The all hazard smart fire safety and emergency trailer will allow the fire company to create over twenty different interactive emergency response scenarios with dozens of additional hazard recognition training opportunities. The mobile training environment features five interior rooms, including an Interactive Kitchen Emergency Training Room, Interactive Residential Mechanical Emergency Training Room, Interactive Bedroom Training Room and two Pre-Training Briefing Rooms. The trailer is fully equipped to include extreme weather conditions.
Schumer was an original sponsor of the legislation that led to the creation of this funding program for local governments and fire departments to help defray the rising costs of equipment and fire prevention. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program funds can go towards training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to fire stations and facilities.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program assists local fire departments in programs and activities to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations through specialized emergency training for response to situations like terrorist attacks; enhancement of emergency medical services programs; development of health and safety initiatives; establishment of fire education and prevention programs; creation of wellness and fitness programs; and equipment and facility upgrades.
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. More information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program can be accessed at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/ .