$47,500 in Federal Funding for Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company in Hamburg

[woodstock]

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September 28, 2005, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced that the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company in Hamburg will receive $47,500 in the 7th round of Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program (AFGP) for fiscal year 2005.

“This grant to the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Department will serve as a tremendous help,” said Congressman Higgins. “These grants enable departments to have access to needed equipment and resources, which in turn makes the lives of all Western New Yorkers safer. Our brave men and women in Erie County—our first responders—put their lives on the line on a daily basis, protect the people in their City and throughout the entire region, and are most deserving of these grants, especially since the grants fill vital community needs. I will continue to fight in Congress for increased funding for our firefighters and first responders who need far more than the federal government is giving them.”

The Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Department was awarded funding for the Operations and Firefighter Safety Program. This program includes training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to fire stations and facilities.

In March of this year, Congressman Higgins’ office held a fire grant workshop at the Hamburg Volunteer Fire Department, where assistance was given to local fire departments in completing grant applications for this AFGP funding.

The 2005 program, which Congress appropriated, and President Bush signed into law, includes $650 million in direct assistance to firefighters to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, and to establish or expand fire prevention programs throughout the United States. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP) administers the program, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

For more information about the grant program please contact Congressman Higgins’ office at 852-3501.
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[WestCoastPerspective]

Maybe they can buy a new hook-and-ladder truck that will get used once in 10 years for the one or two three-story buildings in western Hamburg!

[WNYresident]

Of the few two/three story building how fireproof are they relative to the rest of the area?

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by WestCoastPerspective
Maybe they can buy a new hook-and-ladder truck that will get used once in 10 years for the one or two three-story buildings in western Hamburg!

I predict a new fire hall in order to accommodate all that fancy new equipment. Oh, and an expanded gym, since this is about physical fitness as well.

Whether the volunteers do end up taking classes, who know? They certainly won't tell you!

[woodstock]

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About the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP)
The programs below are designed to assist local fire departments and other organizations in protecting citizens and firefighters against the effects of fire and fire-related incidents.

Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
The purpose of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program is to award one-year grants directly to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services (EMS) organizations of a State to enhance their abilities with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. Our primary goal is to provide assistance to meet fire departments' and nonaffiliated EMS organizations' firefighting and emergency response needs. This program seeks to support organizations that lack the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and their emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards they may face.

Fire Prevention and Safety Grants
The purpose of these grants is to assist State, regional, national or local organizations to address fire prevention and safety. Our primary goal is to reach high-risk target groups including children, seniors and firefighters. Under our authorizing statute the emphasis for these grants is the prevention of fire related injuries to children.

Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants
The purpose of the SAFER grants is to award grants directly to volunteer, combination, and career fire departments to help the departments increase their cadre of firefighters. Ultimately, the goal is for SAFER grantees to enhance their ability to attain 24-hour staffing and thus assuring their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. The SAFER grants have two activities that will help grantees attain this goal: 1) hiring of firefighters and 2) recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.
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[granpabob]

everyday there is a need to reach the upper floors of schools and the roof .If a town has a school taller then one story then it should have fire equipment big enough to fight a fire in that building.

these men get trained constantly that's is part of the reason I quit the training took up too much of my family time.

a few thousand spent on fire companies is all part of the home land protection everyone wants bush to pay for. training funds like this are not new nor are they rare. to get some spent in our area is great.
this is money going to a good cause not thrown away.

[LaNdReW]

Originally posted by granpabob
this is money going to a good cause not thrown away.

I would think any money distributed by the government is considered a good cause to somebody.

How about if the people who get the benefit, pay for it??