Local Fire Depts get fed funds
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-Bainbridge Township) today
announced that three local fire departments will get federal grants
to purchase equipment and hire firefighters.
Leroy Township Fire Department will receive $11,400 to purchase
a thermal imaging camera and a gas meter to detect unsafe gas
levels. Russell Fire Department will receive $86,042 to upgrade
radios to comply with Geauga County's new system. Both these
grants are through the popular Assistance to Firefighters Grant
(AFG) program that helps departments obtain needed equipment and
training. There were more than 16,000 requests for funding,
and $390 million in grants will be awarded this year with Fiscal
Year 2010 funding.
In addition, Stow Fire Department will receive $743,741 to
replace five full-time firefighters who left the department through
retirements. This grant was part of the federal Staffing for
Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program (SAFER) grant
program. The program is used so departments have adequate
staffing levels to protect their communities, and a total of $420
million will be awarded to departments with Fiscal Year 2010
funding.
"These are highly competitive and very useful grant programs,"
LaTourette said. "Stow will have safe staffing levels and
Russell will get help purchasing very expensive radios so it can
communicate with other departments. Leroy, meanwhile, will
get a gas meter to detect gas leaks like the one that damaged and
destroyed homes this week in Fairport Harbor."
The AFG and SAFER programs are administered through the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS).