Gillibrand: Fire departments need more funding to address shortage, replace old equipment
STATEWIDE — SAYING THAT FIRE DEPARTMENTS need a boost in funding for equipment, emergency vehicles and staffing, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) on Wednesday, May 15, pushed members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on this during a virtual press conference. Gillibrand is urging a boost in federal funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. She pointed out that many fire departments across New York State continue to rely on outdated equipment and they struggle with staffing shortages. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program offers multiple types of grants to address such needs. One such grant program, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER), helps fire departments hire and retain trained firefighters to meet industry minimum standards and ensure 24-hour staffing. Gillibrand urged Congress to pass the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S. 870) that will reauthorize these essential programs before they expire on Sept. 30.
Last year, Gillibrand helped secure over 200 AFG and SAFER grants totaling nearly $50 million for fire departments across New York State.
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