Kanjorski Announces $45,864 for Wilkes-Barre Township Volunteer Fire Department
More than $3.8 million awarded to fire companies in the
11^th District since beginning of FIRE grant program

WASHINGTON- Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today announced that the Wilkes-Barre Township Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded $45,864 to purchase 14 new air packs and upgrading the fire truck's air system. The money is part of the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) grant program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"Volunteer fire departments find it increasingly difficult to come up with the money to buy much-needed equipment. I am pleased that the federal government is providing the money for these men and women who are out there saving lives while risking their own. We owe it to them to do all we can to help provide equipment that protects them," Congressman Kanjorski said.

Fire Chief John Yuknavich said he was grateful to Congressman Kanjorski for helping to get the grant.

"For us to come up with $50,000 this year is almost impossible. There's only so much in the relief fund, and chicken barbecues and roast beef dinners don't go too far," Chief Yuknavich said. "This (grant) is a 100 percent help. We're very happy we're getting it."

Wilkes-Barre Township Volunteer Fire Department was awarded a FIRE grant to purchase a new fire truck last year.

Congressman Kanjorski was among 286 cosponsors of the FIRE Act of 2000.

President Bush's proposed 2005 budget would cut Homeland Security Department funding for firefighters. The President's first two budgets did not include FIRE grant funding, but Congress stepped up to ensure that the nation's firefighters were not shortchanged.

"Cutting funding for FIRE grants is unacceptable. These federal dollars are vital to the continuation of our fire stations and fire companies in Northeastern Pennsylvania as well as across the nation," Congressman Kanjorski said.

A June 2003 independent task force report entitled "Emergency Responders: Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared" indicated that only 10 percent of fire departments have the personnel to handle a building collapse.

"Long before Sept. 11, it was evident that our firefighters lacked the necessary tools they need," Congressman Kanjorski said. "While we still have a long way to go to get our emergency responders the tools they need, FIRE grants provide a good first step in eliminating some of the deficiencies in equipment and training."

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