WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Junior Fire Company has been awarded $24,995 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase life-saving firefighting equipment.
“When we are running away from danger, our first responders are running toward it,” said Senator Cardin. “When the Junior Fire Company goes out on a call; they should have the right equipment to do the job and get home safely. The ability to communicate efficiently is important to the safety of first responders and the community. This grant from the Department of Homeland Security is going to save lives and property in Frederick County. ”
“I know how important this funding is to Maryland communities – often it’s the difference between life and death. First responders protect our homes and communities, and the federal government has a responsibility to protect them by providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs safer and smarter,” Senator Mikulski said. “Every day when our first responders report for duty, they don’t know what they will face. That’s why I fight every year for the equipment, training, and staffing our protectors and communities deserve.”
The Junior Fire Company will use the competitive award to purchase 4 interoperable portable radios so that each riding position on the fire engine will have a radio. Currently, the Department only has one radio for the engine. This lack of interoperability creates a real life safety risk for the first responders. This is the first AFG award for the Junior Fire Company. For more information, please contact Bertha Abrecht at 301-663-4870.
AFGP grants fund firefighting equipment, personal protection equipment, training, firefighting vehicles, firefighter/first responder safety projects, and staffing recruitment and retention, as well as public fire safety education.
Since 2001, Maryland fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) units have received over $136.5 million in fire grant funding, $13.8 million of which has gone to fire departments and EMS units in Frederick County.
###
