Graham and DeMint Announce More Than $1.8 Million in Grants for South Carolina Fire Departments

“Firefighters and emergency service personnel dedicate themselves to protecting the health and safety of South Carolinians,” said Graham. “These grants will help our local fire departments by providing them the means to obtain the best equipment and training available.”

“I’m pleased to announce these grants that are important to the brave firefighters that risk their lives for the families of South Carolina,” said Senator DeMint.

The grants were awarded in one of two program areas:

• Operations and Firefighter Safety Program: The funds may be used for training, wellness, and fitness programs; the purchase of firefighting equipment and personal protective equipment; and modifications to fire stations and facilities.

• Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Program: The funds may be used for the purchase of firefighting vehicles including pumpers, brush trucks, tankers, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.

The grants awarded include:

Batesburg

Sandy Ridge Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $145,350 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant.

Blacksburg

Antioch Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $32,300 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.

Clover

Clover Fire Department will receive a $59,688 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.

Heath Springs

Rich Hill Fire Department will receive a $39,900 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.

Holly Hill

Holly Hill Fire Department will receive a $187,768 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant.

Honea Path

Dunklin Fire District will receive a $105,275 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.

Lancaster

Elgin Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $68,590 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.

Marietta

River Falls Fire Department will receive a $28,167 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.

Moncks Corner

Cordesville Rural Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $68,551 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant.

Moncks Corner Rural Fire Department will receive a $109,944 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant.

Whitesville Rural Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $42,180 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.

Nichols

Nichols Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $177,650 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant.

Ridgeville

Lebanon Fire Department of Berkeley County will receive a $191,900 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant.

Seneca

Friendship Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $62,030 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.

Sheldon

Sheldon Township Fire District will receive an $83,198 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.

Springfield

Springfield Fire Department will receive a $187,720 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant.

Una

Una Fire Department will receive a $114,475 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.

Walhalla

Pickett Post-Camp Oak Fire Department will receive a $23,313 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.

Woodruff

Woodruff Fire Department will receive a $171,000 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant.

The Assistance to Firefighters grant program awards one-year grants directly to local fire departments, enhancing their ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards in the community. The program supports departments by providing them the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and their firefighting personnel.

Grantees share in the cost of the funded project at a percentage based on the population of their respective jurisdiction. Grantees that serve jurisdictions of 50,000 or fewer residents are required to provide a non-Federal cost-share of 10 percent while grantees that serve jurisdictions of over 50,000 provide a 30 percent cost-share. The match must be in cash without the use of in-kind contributions. In addition, the maximum amount of federal funds that an applicant can be awarded is $750,000 during any fiscal year.

The grants are made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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