BOUCHER SECURES FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PAINT BANK VOLUNTER FIRE DEPARTMENT

$13,614 Federal Grant Will Enable Purchase of Equipment to Fight Forest Fires

            (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced today that, at his urging, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through its Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, is providing a federal grant in the amount of $13,614 to the Paint Bank Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of new safety equipment that will enable its members to better fight forest and wild land fires.

            “This provision of federal funding will enable the purchase of new equipment for the Paint Bank Volunteer Fire Department, which will provide an added measure of safety for Department members as they fight fires in remote areas of Craig County,” Boucher said.

            Currently, the Department’s members do not have wildland personal protective gear and other equipment to fight fires in remote areas. The Department’s members wear street clothes when addressing such emergencies. With the benefit of the federal funds, the Paint Bank Volunteer Fire Department will purchase 13 sets of wildland personal protective gear, which protects firefighters fighting fires in forests and remote areas. The gear includes helmets with lights, masks, goggles and jumpsuits, and the Department will purchase 5 vests with water storage capabilities that provide firefighters additional water when they reach a hot spot.

            In addition, the grant will enable the purchase of 1,000 feet of 1-inch forestry hose, a portable water pump, a portable generator and an enclosed trailer, which can be used to store the forest firefighting gear and easily transport it to the scene of a wild land fire. The Department will also purchase tools that will assist in fighting forest fires including four axes, two leaf blowers and five rakes.

The Paint Bank Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection to an area of Craig County 200 square miles in size which includes the Paint Bank Community. The Department has 13 members, all of whom serve on a voluntary basis.

            "I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has provided this funding to the Paint Bank Fire Department. It is important to ensure that our fire and rescue personnel have access to the best equipment and today’s announcement will help further this goal," Boucher concluded.                                                

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