Houston, TX - Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) announces that the Jacinto City Fire Department has won a grant of $261, 250 that will supply 95 percent of the funding for a new fire engine.

“This is the best thing that’s happened to the fire service in a long time,” Jacinto City Fire Chief Lon Squyres said. “The grant will be extremely beneficial. We’ll finally be able to retire a fire engine we acquired in 1983. We appreciate Congressman Green’s continued support.”

The grant is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The Jacinto City Fire Department’s award is part of the Fiscal Year 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG).

“I don’t know of a job nobler than the firefighter’s. They risk their lives to keep us safe, and bear the brunt of the risk during major emergencies,” Green said. “I know fire engines last a long time, but 24 years is pushing it. I’m very pleased that the Jacinto City Fire Department will now be able to purchase top-of-the-line equipment to compliment their top-of-the-line personnel.”