The Schoharie Fire Department was recently awarded $103,000 in grant monies through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire-related hazards.
With the grant monies, the Schoharie Fire Department purchased new self-contained breathing apparatus, commonly called airpacks.
“Our firefighters go into harm’s way to keep all of us safe and this funding will help ensure that the women and men of our department have the equipment to do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Chief Doug Stinson.
“Our department tries really hard each and every year to go after grants for equipment purchases and help offset fire protection costs for the Village and Town”, added Assistant Fire Chief John Borst III.
The Schoharie Fire Department is no stranger to FEMA grants.
In previous years, the department used FEMA AFG grant monies to purchase new portable and mobile radios, replace outdated protective gear, a thermal imaging camera, fire hose, and an interactive fire safety trailer that is shared with all other fire departments in Schoharie County.
A FEMA AFG grant from 2003 was even used to purchase the 3,000-gallon tanker currently used by the fire department.
To date, the department has received more than $738,000 in various grant awards to provide safe equipment for its members, savings passed along to local taxpayers.