Today, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced that Busti Fire Department has been awarded $84,740 in federal Homeland Security funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program (AFGP)

“Each and every day our firefighters fulfill a selfless mission and put their lives on the line to save the lives of their neighbors,” said Congressman Higgins.  “This funding provides our local first responders here in Chautauqua County with additional resources to protect themselves and the communities they serve.”

The department was awarded this grant under the AFGP Operations and Safety Program which makes funds available for training, equipment, personal protective gear, wellness and fitness, and health and safety modifications to station and facilities

Established in 1939, the Busti Fire district covers over 63 square miles and includes a population of almost 4,500.  Firefighters, who work out of the station on Mill Road, answer approximately 250 fire and EMS calls each year. 

Congressman Higgins has hosted several fire grants workshops where participants are invited to learn first hand from a DHS Fire Grant Specialist how to put together a qualifying application.  All applications are then submitted to DHS and go through a non-partisan, merit based review ranked by factors established by a panel of service professionals.  Over the last four years, fire companies in Congressman Higgins’ district have received over $10.5 million in aid.

The AFG program, approved by Congress, includes $500 million in direct assistance to firefighters to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, and to establish or expand fire prevention programs throughout the United States.  This year, $210 million in additional funding will be made available for fire grants through the recently approved American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP) administers the program, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

There are 1.1 million active firefighters in the United States, 73 percent of which are volunteers.  For more information about the grant program please contact Congressman Higgins’ office at 716-852-3501.