Owens announces $62K in Grant Funding for St. Regis Falls Fire Department

Press Release

Today Congressman Bill Owens announced a $62,748 grant awarded to the St. Regis Falls Fire Department through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) FY 2013 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This funding will go towards operations and safety at the fire house.

"Many of the fire departments in northern New York have to operate with extremely limited resources," said Owens. "This funding allows the department to avoid cutting corners on equipment and training that keeps their volunteer first-responders, and the communities they serve, safe."

AFG grants are competitive and awarded directly to fire departments to protect public and first-responder health and safety. This grant will be used to replace outdated air packs and bottles and provide training on the new safer equipment.

"This funding will have a huge impact," said Wilbur Bailey, Fire Chief and more than 30 year veteran firefighter at the St. Regis Falls Volunteer Fire Department. "It means we can update to new equipment that is easier for our firefighters to use when they go into fires. Departments in this area cover a lot of land so we have to rely on each other sometimes. This safer equipment helps us help them too. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen."

Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. This funding is part of round 19 of the competitive FY 2013 announcements. For more information on the grants, visit the AFG website at www.fema.gov/firegrants.

Source