SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $150,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR TWO HUDSON VALLEY FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Funding will be used to purchase new equipment for firefighters
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $151,569 in federal funding for the White Lake Fire District and the Larchmont Fire Department. The funding was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. Specifically, the White Lake Fire District in Sullivan County will use the funding to purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs). The Larchmont Fire Department in Westchester County will use the federal funding to replace old and failing fire hoses.
“With this funding, the brave first responders of the White Lake and Larchmont Fire Departments can focus on their important work knowing they have reliable protective equipment,” said Senator Schumer. “This investment will help ensure our local heroes can continue their life-saving work as effectively and safely as possible.”
“These federal funds will allow our fire departments to purchase the up-to-date equipment they need to do their jobs effectively and stay safe while they are protecting our communities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “We need to do everything we can to protect the men and women who risk their lives every day in the face of danger, and I will always fight in the Senate to make sure that our fire departments are funded and equipped.”
“The board members of the White Lake Fire District and the members of the White Lake Fire Company are both very pleased and very grateful to be the recipient of this generous grant from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants. This money will allow us to purchase and replace our aging and mismatched self-contained breathing apparatus that is so vital to our firefighters’ safety. We wish to extend our thanks to Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer for their tireless efforts in support of volunteer firefighters everywhere and their efforts to make sure this important grant program will be available to fire districts into the future,” said Bob Yakin Jr. Chairman of the White Lake Fire District.
“We would like to thank US Senators Gillibrand and Schumer for their help in securing this important grant for the Larchmont Fire Department.” said Chief John Caparelli, Larchmont Fire Department. “This grant comes at exactly the right time because we have an urgent need to replace some very old and failing fire hoses. Some of our hoses are over 25 years old, and are failing tests at alarming rates. One of our trucks has a hose with limited capabilities. These hoses are very expensive to replace so this federal grant really benefits our community.”
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. Funding is allocated to strengthen emergency 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/
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