Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) announced today that fire departments in Farmington, Wallingford, Union, Meriden, Westport, and Woodstock have been awarded federal grants totaling more than $400,000. The funds will go to improving operations and safety at their facilities. The grants were made possible by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program, which provides aid to first-responder programs nationwide with the aim of providing better equipment to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of the first-responders themselves. In fiscal year 2008, the AFG program has provided approximately $500 million in nationwide grants.

“In an emergency, the residents of Connecticut’s communities – and every community – count on their fire fighters to save lives and protect neighborhoods,” said Dodd.  “We must ensure that these brave first responders have the funds they need to keep themselves safe while protecting their fellow citizens in whatever emergency situations may arise.”    

"Connecticut first responders are on call 24/7 to protect the people in their communities from whatever disaster arises,” said Lieberman.  “It is incumbent upon us in Washington to ensure that they have the resources necessary to perform their jobs properly. I am pleased these grants have been awarded so the first responders in these six Connecticut towns have the most up to date safety equipment and training possible."

The fire departments to receive funding are: 

• Farmington Fire Department – $13,500

• Meriden Department of Fire & Emergency Services – $199,857

• Union Volunteer Fire Department – $25,175

• Wallingford Department of Fire & Emergency Services – $127,514

• Westport Fire Department – $22,428

• Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association – $20,963

Senators Dodd and Lieberman have a long history of advocating for fire safety. In 2000, Dodd authored and Lieberman cosponsored the FIRE Act, which gives local fire departments the ability to purchase new equipment and initiate education and training programs. In 2003, Dodd authored and Lieberman cosponsored the SAFER Act, a law that gives local fire departments the ability to alleviate critical shortfalls in professional and volunteer personnel. Since the SAFER and FIRE Acts were enacted, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, has distributed over 460 grants for a total of more than $47 million in Connecticut to help fire departments strengthen their response capabilities.

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