Briarcliff Manor Fire Department in Westchester County To Purchase New Breathing Apparatus Fill Station, Mobile Data System for Fire Trucks and Pagers for First Responders

Press Release

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $167,451 in federal funding for the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department. The funding was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). The Briarcliff Manor Fire Department will use these federal funds to purchase a new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) fill station, a mobile data terminal and pagers for firefighters and emergency medical technicians. The Senators wrote letters in December to DHS and to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in support of the department's application.

"These much-needed federal funds will help the Briarcliff Fire Department purchase new breathing apparatuses that will keep firefighters safe and make them more effective during emergency situations," said Senator Schumer. "Our first responders are our primary line of defense, and it is crucial that we provide them with the cutting-edge equipment that they need to do their jobs and save lives. This funding is an investment in their safety, as they protect the safety of our Westchester communities."

"This funding is an important investment for the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department," Senator Gillibrand said. "Our firefighters put their lives on the line every day and that is why it is important to make sure they have access to state-of-the-art equipment. This will help ensure their safety and the safety of the community and helps them perform at the highest level possible. This investment will help the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department to run more efficiently and save more lives."

"I am very pleased FEMA awarded the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department the Assistance to Firefighters Grant for $167,451. We could not have accomplished this without help from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Charles Schumer, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, the Village Board of Trustees, Village Manager Phillip Zegarelli and the volunteer members of the BMFD who put the information together, " said Chief Robert O'Hanlon Jr. "A special thank you to Fiona Hodgson who advised us and prepared the application. Her hard work really brought it to life. The SCBA Compressor System, Mobile Data Terminals and personal pagers will bring our Fire Department and Ambulance Services into the 21st century giving us new capabilities and improving old ones. As Chief I could not be more proud of the 138 volunteer members of the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department for their dedication and support for the community."

Briarcliff Manor Fire Department, located in Westchester County, is operated by more than 138 volunteer fire fighters. They provide fire protection and emergency medical services to the village of Briarcliff Manor and its hamlet, Scarborough, as well as areas in Ossining. The fire department will use this federal funding to purchase a new, more efficient breathing apparatus fill station, which will enable them to fill more air bottles. They will also use the funding to purchase a mobile data terminal to communicate calls to fire trucks that are out in the field as well as to purchase 80 pagers to notify firefighters and emergency medical technicians of a call.

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.

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