FOUR CONNECTICUT FIRE DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDS

Dodd, Lieberman Announce Over $230,000 in Grant Money

WASHINGTON—Connecticut Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman Friday announced that four Connecticut fire departments will receive $232,568 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.  All four departments received funds from AFG’s Operations and Safety Program Area.

            “Federal programs like this one, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, help fill budget gaps that allow first responder departments across Connecticut to purchase vital equipment they need to do their job safely,” said Dodd.  “The recent tragedy in Middletown has only highlighted the critically important role our heroic fire fighters play in helping our communities respond to and recover from local crises, and the importance of federal commitments to our first responders.”

            Lieberman said: “With local governments struggling in a weak economy, the federal government must pitch in and do all it can to support the brave first responders who protect our communities 24/7.  These grants will help train and equip firefighters in four Connecticut towns to better respond to disasters of all sorts – such as the explosion at the Kleen Energy plant in Middletown last week. The men and women of Connecticut's firefighting corps put their lives on the line for us every day. The least we can do is make sure they are well trained and equipped when the alarm sounds."

            Dodd and Lieberman have a long history of advocating for fire safety.  In 2000, Dodd authored, and Lieberman cosponsored, the FIRE Act, which gives local fire departments the ability to purchase new equipment and initiate education and training programs.  In 2003, Dodd authored, and Lieberman cosponsored, the SAFER Act, which gives local fire departments the ability to alleviate critical shortfalls in professional and volunteer personnel.  Since the SAFER and FIRE Acts were enacted, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, now part of Department of Homeland Security, has distributed over 550 grants for a total of more than $60 million in Connecticut to help fire departments strengthen their response capabilities.  Dodd and Lieberman have been tireless advocates for increasing federal funding for first responders.

            The departments receiving grants, along with the totals are as follows:

                        West Hartford Fire Department: $134,400

Westfield Fire District: $74,518

                        Town of Windsor Fire Department: $18,900

                        Stevenson Volunteer Fire Company: $4,750

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