Printer
Friendly Version
Wyden, Smith, DeFazio Announce
Federal Grant of $348,703 for Eugene Fire & EMS Department
September 24, 2004
Washington, DC – U.S.
Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) and U.S.
Representative Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) today announced that the
Eugene Fire & EMS Department will receive $348,703 from the
Office of Domestic Preparedness (ODP) for Operations and Firefighter
Safety.
“Eugene’s first responders put their lives on the
line every day to keep their community safe and these federal
funds will help make them safer as well,” said Wyden. “I
am pleased to see Eugene benefit from this grant.”
“To be fully effective,
first responders need their equipment and supplies to be in top
shape,” Smith said. “This requires constant upkeep,
and their needs often exceed what local communities can afford.”
“These funds will help
ensure that our fire fighters are well equipped and in good health,
ready to respond at a moment's notice to protect our lives and
property,” said DeFazio. “I'm proud to help those
who so bravely protect us.”
The grant will help fund
exhaust extraction systems, which will help protect first responders
from toxic vapors and particulates. These systems will also reduce
maintenance costs, provide energy savings, and increase the useful
life span of firefighting equipment and station structures.
“This is great news,” said Glen Potter of the Eugene
Fire & EMS Department. “We deeply appreciate the support
of Senators Wyden and Smith and Congressman DeFazio. With this
funding we will be able to purchase exhaust upgrades at eight
Eugene fire stations. The improvements to the exhaust system will
address the community's health concerns by filtering the diesel
exhaust fumes which pose a hazard to firefighters and their equipment.”
###