Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) announced today that the Allingtown, Bozrah, Clinton, Hamden, North Coventry, and Waterbury Fire Departments have received grants of over $800,000 from the federal government.  The funds will improve operations and safety at all fire departments, specifically in the areas of personal protective equipment, health and safety modifications to stations and facilities, and wellness and fitness training.  The grants were made possible by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program, which provides assistance to first-responder programs nationwide.  In fiscal year 2008, the AFG program has provided approximately $500 million in grants nationwide.

Grant Information:

•  Clinton - $308,104

• Waterbury – $270, 568

• North Coventry - $139,650

• Bozrah - $50,587

• Hamden – $30,030

• Allingtown (West Haven) - $23,074

“In an emergency, citizens turn to their community fire department for a quick response and reassurance that they and their loved ones will be kept safe,” said Dodd.  “I am pleased that six Connecticut fire departments have been awarded grants that will help them protect the brave men and women who respond to emergency calls and the communities that depend on them.” 

“In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, we are reminded of our dependence on our first preventers and responders who work to mitigate, respond to, and recover from disasters in communities around the nation,” Lieberman said. “These grants will help six Connecticut fire departments protect the people in their communities when disaster strikes.”

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 457 grants for a total of more than $47 million in Connecticut to help fire departments strengthen their response capabilities.

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