SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $63,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR NORTH HORNELL FIRE DEPARTMENT IN STEUBEN COUNTY
Funding will be used to purchase new equipment for firefighters
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $63,962 in federal funding for the North Hornell Fire Department in Steuben County. The funding was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. Specifically, the North Hornell Fire Department will use the federal funding to replace outdated vehicle extrication equipment to include HURST tools (jaws of life), air bags for lifting and moving large heavy objects, vehicle stabilization jacks, and cascade air storage bottles that will accommodate filling new air packs received last year.
“With this funding, the brave first responders of the North Hornell Fire Department can focus on their important work with the confidence that they have reliable and protective equipment,” said Senator Schumer. “This grant will help ensure that our local heroes can continue their life-saving work as efficiently 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.”
“If we had not received this grant, it would have taken possibly seven years or more to become fully updated with our vehicle extrication equipment and air storage system. We are very grateful to have received this grant so that we can update our outdated equipment much quicker than possibly seven years,” said North Hornell Fire Chief Mike Robbins. “By being able to purchase this new equipment we are better equipping our firefighters to do the job that they are trained to do in a more efficient manner, the new equipment is significantly lighter and less bulky than the equipment that we currently have therefore the firefighters will not get fatigued as quick as they do now.”
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/firegrants.
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