|
Washington, D.C. - As part of his ongoing effort to provide firefighters and other emergency responders with the best equipment possible, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that the Orange Lake Fire District, which serves much of the Town of Newburgh area, has been awarded a $189,050 federal grant to replace and update gear for its firefighters.
"Providing these critical funds for new and improved safety gear is the least we can do for the 100 firefighters of the Orange Lake Fire District who risk their lives day in and day out to protect their community and answer their community's calls for assistance without payment for their invaluable service," Hinchey said. "This new gear will better protect firefighters, and in turn, better protect the people in the Town of Newburgh."
The Orange Lake Fire District has nearly 100 firefighters based at the district's two firehouses. The grant will allow the district to replace outdated turnout gear for its firefighters. The new safety gear will bring the department in line with modern standards for such protective gear. The improved materials and design of this gear will also allow firefighters to do their jobs with reduced physical stress on them from the older protective gear and thereby help them avoid fatigue in emergency situations.
The funds come from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA). As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Hinchey has worked to secure full funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, since its inception in 2001. He has also sponsored a number of workshops across his congressional district to help fire departments with the grant application process. Hinchey is also the author of the SERVE (Supporting Emergency Responders' Volunteer Efforts) Act, which would provide a $1,000 federal tax credit to individuals who are active members of volunteer firefighting and EMS organizations.
Since the fire grant program started four years ago, more than $7.8 million in grants have been awarded to fire and emergency departments in Hinchey's congressional district.
|
