January 27, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Tom Petri reports that the Ashippun Fire Department has received a federal Assistance to Firefighters grant of $30,000. The funds will be used to purchase flag-style street address markers for individual homes in the community.

Ashippun Fire Chief Deonne Eske said that the markers will help the fire department locate the correct address in the case of an emergency and provide a specific safe location for a home's evacuees to gather. Eske said that the department will have an educational program, especially in schools and for the elderly, to explain the new "Get Out, Stay Out and Meet by the Sign" program.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program awards one-year grants directly to local fire departments, enhancing their abilities to respond to fire and fire-related hazards in their communities.

"We ask a lot more of fire departments than we used to - not simply fire fighting but also fire prevention, safety programs, emergency medical services and even terrorist threats," said Petri. "These grants are meant to help local communities cope with the added expenses in order to keep us all safer."