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Grahamsville, NY - Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Sullivan County Fire Chief Association's new mobile trailer that will travel around the county offering fire safety and prevention demonstrations. The majority of the funding for the new trailer came from a federal grant that Hinchey supported. Hinchey joined fire officials at the Grahamsville Little World's Fair to debut the new fire safety trailer.
"Having this trailer available to travel around Sullivan County to educate residents of all ages about fire safety and prevention will undoubtedly help save lives and property," Hinchey said. "The mobile fire safety trailer will be an invaluable tool for fire officials throughout the county. I look forward to securing additional federal funds to advance fire safety and prevention throughout Sullivan County, New York, and the country."
The fire safety/home safety/sprinkler demonstration trailer will help educate the entire Sullivan County community on a wide array of fire safety programs. The trailer also offers information on how to eliminate fire and other safety hazards to prevent injuries such as electrocutions, falls, and hangings. Additionally, the trailer has an "activation room" where dramatic "live-fire" demonstrations can be viewed from outside the vehicle in order to show the effectiveness of both residential and commercial sprinkler systems.
There are 40 fire departments as well as several fire prevention committees and town fire chiefs' associations in Sullivan County that have a history of working well together. All of these organizations will have access to the trailer in their individual districts as well as during special occasions such as department open houses, community celebrations including the Fourth of July and Memorial Day events, block parties, street fairs, fire parades, open air farmers markets, business promotions, home improvement shows, home building shows and church events.
The total cost of the trailer is roughly $65,000, of which $45,544 came from the federal grant that Hinchey supported. The federal share is from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which was created in 2001. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Hinchey has worked to secure full funding for the program. He has also sponsored a number of workshops across his congressional district to help fire departments and associations 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.
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