WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Congressman Dan Boren announced today the award of a $78,375 fire grant to the Red Oak Fire Department. The Town of Red Oak will provide a $4,125 local match for a total of $82,500. The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will be used to obtain full sets of both wild land and structure firefighting equipment, as well as a new refill station for firefighters’ Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SBCA) units.
“I am pleased to announce that this money is headed to Red Oak,” Boren said. “It will help ensure that another fire department will have the tools they need to provide critical emergency services to the citizens of Latimer County when they need it most.”
The Department of Homeland Security’s “Assistance to Firefighters Grants” (AFG) program awards funding directly to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. The grants allow the departments and organizations to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of both the public and emergency responders.
“We appreciate Congressman Boren’s assistance in gaining this funding on behalf of the citizens and emergency responders of eastern Latimer County,” said Patty Adams of KEDDO. “We look forward to working with him on future projects to improve emergency response in this area.”
In Fiscal Year 2008, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program will award approximately $500 million directly to fire departments and EMS organizations to enhance their response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards. Since 2002, AFG has provided over $3.6 billion in grants to fire departments and first responder organizations.
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