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The money, which comes in the form of an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) dispersed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will benefit the Hartsdale, Elmsford and Fairview fire departments, said U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, who along with Rep. Eliot Engel, announced the funding.
“From the moment they arrive on the scene, first responders play a vital role in minimizing loss of life, often at great personal risk,” Lowey said in a statement. “This grant will provide crucial equipment and the training our first responders need … to do their jobs effectively and keep our community safe.”
Hartsdale Fire Chief Ed Rush was reportedly “thrilled” after learning that his department would receive the AFG.
“This grant will allow us to purchase new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus that meet all of the latest standards, which will keep our firefighters safe and allow them to do their dangerous jobs in a more efficient manner,” Rush said in the statement.
Engel praised first responders for the work they do each day before saying that it is imperative the federal government ensure the safety of such people.
“With this funding, the brave men and women … serving the people of Greenburgh, will get the equipment and training they need to help keep themselves and the general public safe,” Engel said.
The AFG is awarded directly to fire departments, non-affiliated emergency medical services organizations and state fire training academies to “enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public.”
Since 2001, more than $6.4 billion in such grants have been awarded to first-responder organizations and used to obtain equipment, emergency vehicles and training.
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