Kanjorski Announces $65,322 for Tresckow Fire Company #1

WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today announced that the Tresckow Fire Company #1 received a $65,322 federal grant for airpacks and protective gear.

The money is part of the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) grant program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Congressman Kanjorski has long been a vocal advocate in ensuring firefighters and other emergency responders are well-equipped.

"Firefighters play a critical role in protecting our communities. Our fire departments rely increasingly on money from fundraisers just to keep their operations running, so these federal grants are very important. We need to be willing to provide the money to the people who protect us - first responders such as our firefighters - who are out there every day risking their own lives," Congressman Kanjorski said. "We owe it to them and we owe it to their families to make sure they are equipped to do their jobs safely."

Tresckow Fire Chief Jim Sharp said the fire company is small and self-sustaining. "Everything we do for operations we raise on our own," Chief Sharp said. "Without these grants, we would not be able to upgrade any equipment."

Tresckow Fire Company #1 was previously awarded a FIRE grant for $225,000 in 2003.

Congressman Kanjorski was among 286 cosponsors of the FIRE Act of 2000. More than $8.5 million in federal grants has been awarded to fire companies in the 11^th congressional district since the FIRE grant program began. To date, 80 fire companies in the 11^th congressional district have benefited from this federal grant program.

Congressman Kanjorski has developed a resource guide for firefighters that includes comprehensive federal and state grant and contact information. The guide is available on Congressman Kanjorski's Web site, http://kanjorski.house.gov/.

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