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Hoyer Is Major Supporter of Federal Firefighter Grant Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) announced today that three Volunteer Fire Departments in Southern Maryland have been awarded federal Fire Grants totaling nearly $335,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department received a grant in the amount of $215,802, the Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department received a grant in the amount of $56,455, and the Bryans Road Volunteer Fire Department received a grant in the amount of $62,091. As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Congressman Hoyer was very active in helping establish and fund the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which helps local fire departments in Maryland and across the country buy equipment and provide adequate training.
“With the help of this federal funding, each of these fire departments will be able to purchase equipment that will better protect their firefighters, and will help keep their department running safely and efficiently,” said Congressman Hoyer. “Our volunteer and career firefighters sacrifice a great deal to protect our communities and it is our duty to provide them with all available resources they need to protect our neighborhoods from harm and to ensure that they are able to safely perform their job.”
“I am pleased that these three Southern Maryland Volunteer Fire Departments are the recipients of grants that will allow them to upgrade the equipment that allows a firefighter to breathe safely and keep our firefighters safe on the ground, and to buy radios so that firefighters can better communicate at the scene of an incident,” Hoyer added.
The Prince Frederick VFD was awarded a federal Fire Grant in the amount of $275,802 and will use the funds to purchase turnout gear, allowing 100% of their firefighters to have proper protection in execution of firefighting and other public service duties. They will also purchase new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs), to replace their old, non-compliant breathing apparatus and will outfit each firefighter with their own face mask to ensure the SCBAs fit the firefighters properly. Finally, they will purchase Rapid Intervention Packs that contain essential equipment to rescue downed firefighters.
Assistant Fire Chief Brian Ficke said, “as the prices for this critical equipment rises, we’ve had to put off purchasing equipment that we simply can’t afford even though our current equipment is reaching the end of its life. This equipment will ensure that our guys are better protected and better outfitted to protect the citizens in the county and state. We are grateful that Steny Hoyer has been pushing to keep this grant alive. It is vital to state and local jurisdictions and to the public, and our whole department is thankful that he is supporting us.”
The Potomac Heights VFD in Indian Head was awarded a federal Fire Grant in the amount of $56,455 and will use the funds to purchase handheld two-way radios so that every riding position on the fire truck is outfitted with a radio and every firefighter will be able to communicate at the scene of an incident.
Fire Chief Scott Creelman said, “the fiscal constraints of today require that Fire Departments seek out supplemental forms of funding in order to maintain a heightened state of readiness as dictated by the Department of Homeland Security. The Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad Inc., with the support of Congressman Hoyer and other legislators, was able to take advantage of funds provided by the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. These funds will increase the safety of our members and benefit our overall operational efficiency on emergency scenes.”
The Bryans Road VFD was awarded a federal Fire Grant in the amount of $62,091 and will use the funds to purchase a thermal imaging camera which will improve search and rescue efforts for both victims and lost or trapped firefighters, as well as new SCBAs. Paul Tackish, a member of the Department’s Board of Directors said, “without these fire grants, some companies who don’t have the money wouldn’t be able to get what they need. We want to thank Congressman Hoyer for all of his efforts – without his personal involvement, our department would not be able to purchase this critical equipment.
Congressman Hoyer helped start the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program because fire departments often have difficulty purchasing proper equipment. A ladder truck for a local fire department can run upwards of $750,000 and outfitting one firefighter with turnout gear and breathing apparatus can approach $4,500. In addition, departments must fund training programs for paid and/or volunteer firefighters.
The program funding can be used for the following: turnout gear; breathing apparatus; communications equipment; wellness and fitness programs; computer and technology improvements for record keeping and training purposes; training in fire-fighting, emergency response and arson prevention; improving the enforcement of fire codes; and modifying fire stations and fire training facilities to protect the health and safety of the firefighter personnel.
President Bush’s budget blueprint for fiscal year 2002 eliminated funding for the Firefighter program, contending that the fire grant program “does not represent an appropriate responsibility of the federal government.” Congressman Hoyer and other members of Congress have historically fought to restore funding to the program, and secured $650 million in fiscal year 2005, $150 million more than the President’s request for 2005. However, the President’s budget for fiscal year 2006 proposed another $150 million decrease in funds for the program and Congressman Hoyer will fight to restore these funds.
The President’s budget also eliminates funding for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters (SAFER) Grant Program. Last year, Congressman Hoyer was successful in securing $65 million in funding for the SAFER Program in the Homeland Security funding bill and he will continue to be a leader in fighting for funding for this program. Funding for this historic new federal grant program will help career and volunteer fire departments hire new firefighters, recruit and retain volunteer fire fighters, and provide relief to the thousands of local fire stations across the country that are currently operating short of staff.
Since 2001, Maryland has received nearly $22 million in grant funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Fire departments that have received grants in Maryland’s Fifth District include La Plata, Hughesville, Mechanicsville, Solomons, Laurel, Prince George’s County, Seventh District, Leonardtown, College Park, Cobb Island, Second District, Brandywine, Greenbelt, Benedict, Waldorf, Newburg, and Berwyn Heights.
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