Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $101,764 for the Village of Develan Fire Department in Cattaraugus County and $74,682 in federal funding for the William P. Brooks Hose Company in Allegany County. The funding was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). The federal grant funds will be used by both fire departments to purchase new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA). These air-packs help firefighters breathe when in burning buildings and hazardous environments.
“These much-needed federal funds will provide assistance to Western New York fire departments that need to replace twenty-year-old equipment. First responders are our primary line of defense – they safeguard our residents and protect our property. It’s crucial that we provide support to our fire departments to purchase the equipment they need to do their jobs to the best of their ability and save lives,” said Senator Schumer.
“Every day first responders put their lives on the line to protect our families and keep our communities safe,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Ensuring they have the right equipment to save lives and protect themselves is critically important. I am pleased these Western New York fire departments will be able to purchase the tools they need to continue to serve their communities and save more lives.”
“Replacing our existing air packs that are at least twenty years old is going to bring our new equipment up to new NFPA standards,” said Jeffery Holmes, Chief of the Develan Fire Department. “Plus, the cascade system is going to allow us to refill the new bottles and do a lot more training.”
The William P. Brooks Hose Company in Fillmore will receive $74,682 to purchase new SCBAs, which will replace fourteen old air-packs and protect firefighters. The Develan Fire Department will use their grant to replace all twenty of their self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs), which can cost between $7,500 and $8,000 apiece. The Develan Fire Department will also be purchasing a cascade filling system, which allows firefighters to fill four SCBA packs at a time during emergencies.
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. More information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program can be accessed at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/ .