Cartwright Announces $207,620 in DHS Grants for Two Schuylkill County Fire Departments
Pottsville, PA – July 13, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded two Schuylkill County fire departments each with Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFGs). The funds will be distributed via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Company in Sheppton has been awarded a $171,429 vehicle acquisition grant, which will enable the company to purchase a new tanker, a fire vehicle tasked with transporting large amounts of water to a fire. These are especially useful in rural areas where fire hydrants are not available and natural water resources are insufficient.
Deer Lake & West Brunswick Fire Co. #1 in Orwigsburg has been awarded a $36,191 operations and safety grant, which will fund the purchase of a new air compressor.
Rep. Cartwright, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, said, “I am happy to see this funding come to Schuylkill County, and I congratulate both the Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Company and the Deer Lake & West Brunswick Fire Co. #1 on successful grant applications.”
The purpose of the AFG is to award competitive grants directly to fire departments to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel. Since 2001, the AFG program has provided approximately $6.1 billion in grants to first-responder organizations to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, and training.
During the current funding cycle, the AFG program will award nearly $300 million more to first-responder organizations that need support to improve their capability to respond to fires and emergencies of all types.
