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Congressman Paul Tonko announced over $5 million in federal grants for fire departments in New York's Capital Region. The funding, sourced from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) programs, will benefit 11 fire departments and emergency medical services squads.
The grants aim to enhance staffing, recruitment, and retention efforts, as well as improve equipment and safety operations. Among the recipients, the City of Schenectady Fire Department will receive over $2 million, while the Albany Fire Department will gain $266,181. Other beneficiaries include the Rensselaer and Cohoes Fire Departments.
According to Congressman Tonko, these funds are crucial for equipping first responders with the necessary tools to safely and effectively serve their communities. "These brave men and women put their lives on the line every single day to keep our families safe," Tonko stated, emphasizing the importance of providing adequate resources to local emergency responders.
The grants are part of a broader effort to support fire departments nationwide, with a total of $615.6 million distributed through the SAFER and AFG programs in Fiscal Year 2024. This funding will help departments purchase vital equipment such as new turnout gear, personal protective equipment, and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) face masks.