Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that the Town of Clermont Fire District will receive $36,067 in federal grants to purchase a new Cascade Air Fill System. The funding comes from the FY12 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. AFG awards are administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and are designed to help 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 cascade air fill system will allow the fire district to fill air pack tanks at their own station.
“With this funding, Town of Clermont firefighters can focus on their important work and will have the proper equipment to safely respond to emergencies in the region,” said Senator Schumer. “This investment will help ensure that our local heroes can continue their life-saving work and will enable them to respond as effectively and safely as possible.”
“This is an important investment for the Town of Clermont Fire District,” said Senator Gillibrand. “It’s our responsibility to ensure our first responders have the most up-to-date equipment to serve our communities. The new Cascade Air Fill System will help Town of Clermont Fire District upgrade their emergency response equipment so that their firefighters can respond to emergencies in the community more efficiently and effectively, and help save more lives.”
“The Clermont Fire District is pleased to have been awarded the grant from the Department of Homeland Security,” Mark Schiller, Chairman of the Clermont Board of Fire Commissioners said. “The Clermont Fire District will be spending approximately $40,000 for a cascade air fill system. This will allow us to fill our air pack tanks in our own station. We currently have been paying another department for this service, which is out of our district. The Clermont Fire District is excited to begin work on this project. Thank you for all your help in our attaining this grant.”
Schumer was an original sponsor of the legislation that led to the creation of this funding program for local governments and fire departments to help defray the rising costs of equipment and fire prevention. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program funds can go towards training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to fire stations and facilities.
Located in Germantown, the Town of Clermont Fire District will use the federal funds to purchase a new Cascade Air Fill System which will allow them to fill their air packs at their own station instead of traveling to another station and paying a fee to do so. The investment will help them serve the members of the Clermont community with the highest efficiency.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program assists local fire departments in programs and activities to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations through specialized emergency training for response to situations like terrorist attacks; enhancement of emergency medical services programs; development of health and safety initiatives; establishment of fire education and prevention programs; creation of wellness and fitness programs; and equipment and facility upgrades.
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/ .