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11/27/07 West Hazleton Fire Department Receives $261,250 Federal Grant |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 27, 2007
Contact: Abigail McDonough
202-225-6511
WEST HAZLETON FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES
$261,250 FEDERAL GRANT
Rep. Kanjorski Champions Grant for Upgraded Fire Truck
WEST HAZLETON, P.A. - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today announced that the West Hazleton Fire Department in Luzerne County received a $261,250 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 replace a 30 year old fire truck that the fire department currently uses.
The West Hazleton Fire Department is comprised of 20 volunteers, 2 full-time career firefighters, 1 career fire chief, and 10 part-time paid operators.
"The Congressman has been a great help to us and we appreciate all the work that he has put in to help secure this funding," said Robert Ward, Fire Chief for the West Hazleton Fire Department. "The grant will go a long way to help modernize our fire truck which will also increase the safety of our firefighters. Without this grant, our fire department would not have the means to purchase a new truck."
Congressman Kanjorski stated, "I am pleased that such a worthy group of firefighters received this generous grant. The firefighters at the West Hazleton Fire Department continuously risk their lives every day to ensure the safety of the people in the Hazleton area. With the Assistance to Firefighters Grant, the volunteers can upgrade their fire truck to ensure higher standards of public and firefighters 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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