FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    Contact: Gretchen M. Wintermantel
July 31, 2007                                                                     202-225-6511

Kanjorski Announces $140,893 for Two Lehighton First Responder Associations

WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today announced that the Lehighton Ambulance Association has received $59,376 and the Lehighton Fire Department has received $81,517 in federal funding through the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) grant program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The Lehighton Ambulance Association will use the money for coats, ambulance litters and stair chairs. The new coats have a reflective covering and a protective barrier to stop blood-borne pathogens. The ambulance litters (cots used to lift people from ambulances to hospital gurneys) will replace the current litters, which are about 17 years old. Stair chairs move patients up and down stairs safely, and the newer ones are designed to better distribute a patient's weight.

The Lehighton Fire Department will use the money to purchase new personal protective gear - including coats, helmets, pants, gloves, boots and hoods - for its 53 firefighters.  

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

"Our emergency responders are heroes who play a critical role in protecting our communities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. We owe it to them to do all we can to help supply equipment that protects them," Congressman Kanjorski said.  "In order to provide essential emergency services, our firefighters need the most current equipment and training programs."

Mark T. Walck of the Lehighton Ambulance Association said he is encouraged by the grant. "It shows that the grant program is looking at Emergency Medical Services as a part of the First Responder System," he said.

Michael Mriss of the Lehighton Fire Department said the FIRE grant program is important because it would have taken from eight to 10 years to replace the gear using only their own funds.

Congressman Kanjorski was among 286 cosponsors of the FIRE Act of 2000. More than $11.9 million in federal grants has been awarded to fire companies in the 11^th congressional district since the FIRE grant program began. To date, 104 emergency responder organizations in the 11^th congressional district have benefited from this federal grant program.

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