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Aquashicola Volunteer FIre Company Receives $40,850 Federal Grant |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 14, 2007
Contact: Abigail McDonough
202-225-6511
AQUASHICOLA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY RECEIVES $40,850 FEDERAL GRANT
Rep. Kanjorski Champions Grant for Fire Equipment
AQUASHICOLA, P.A. - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today announced that the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company in Carbon County received a $40,850 grant through the Fiscal Year 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fire Administration. The funds will be used to update dilapidated pagers, purchase a large diameter fire hose and appliances to replace the 30 year old hose currently in use, and obtain a new thermal imaging camera for the rapid intervention team which makes it possible for the firefighters to spot victims through intense smoke.
The Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company a 100% volunteer organization comprised of about twenty volunteers.
"We greatly appreciate Congressman Kanjorski's assistance throughout the application process. This award will greatly enhance our department's response capabilities and firefighter safety. Without this assistance our requested safety and operational equipment would have to be deferred until funds became available from our fund raising campaigns and projects, said Rory Koons, President for the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company. "The AFG program has greatly improved fire fighting capabilities and enhanced emergency preparedness throughout the state and country. We are appreciative and definitely safer as a result of this program."
"I am pleased that such a deserving group of firefighters received this generous grant," said Congressman Kanjorski. The firefighters at the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company continuously risk their lives every day to ensure the safety of the people around Aquashicola. With the Assistance to Firefighters Grant, the volunteers will have better capabilities to reach each other and victims during emergencies to ensure higher standards of public and firefighter safety."
The purpose of the AFG program is to award grants directly to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations. These grants provide first responders with the means to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as first responders. Nationally, the AFG awards, which will be distributed in phases, will ultimately provide approximately $490 million throughout the country.
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