Congressman Higgins & County Executive Collins Announce $498,800 Federal Fire Grant for Erie County

Press Release

Congressman Higgins & County Executive Collins Announce $498,800 Federal Fire Grant for Erie County

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) and Erie County Executive Chris Collins announced that the Erie County Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Org./Erie County Fire Safety Division has been awarded $498,800 in federal funding through the Department of Homeland Security's Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program.

"Firefighter recruitment and retention efforts are essential to maintaining a strong regional fire fighting force," said Congressman Brian Higgins. "This funding will help increase our dedicated team of first responders in Erie County."

"So many of us take the dedication of our volunteer fire fighters for granted until we find ourselves needing their help when it counts the most," said Erie County Executive Chris Collins. "This grant will be critical to help recruit new members and support current volunteers. I want to thank Congressman Higgins for his efforts."

Erie County's Fire Safety Division operates from a training center in Cheektowaga, New York and serves as a resource for the 97 fire departments in Erie County. This grant will help with recruitment at the 94 local volunteer companies. Additional information about volunteer opportunities is available on the Fire Safety Division's website at www.erie.gov/fire.

SAFER grants are aimed at increasing the number of firefighters and enhancing their ability to ensure that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire related hazards. In the 2008 budget, Congress approved $190 million for the SAFER program which provides competitive grants to fire departments and statewide or local firefighter interest groups. These awards are administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

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