Warner, Kaine announce FEMA grants for 10 Virginia fire departments

U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced $3.7 million in FEMA funding for 10 Virginia fire departments.

The funding, which will go to fire departments in Patrick Springs, Forest, Strasburg, Chatham, Martinsville, Norfolk, Spotsylvania, Exmore, Fries, and Yorktown will be awarded through FEMA’s Assistant to Firefighters Grant and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs.                     

“Firefighters put their lives on the line every day. These federal dollars will help fire departments across Virginia update and purchase new equipment and support essential staffing needs, ensuring they have the resources to do their jobs,” the Senators said.

The following Virginia fire departments will receive funding under the AFG program:

• Patrick Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. will receive $90,000 to purchase personal protective equipment.
• Forest Volunteer Fire Company will receive $95,910 to purchase personal protective equipment.
• Strasburg Fire Department will receive $52,143 to update its source capture exhaust system technology.
• Chatham Fire Department will receive $15,239 to support search and rescue training.
• Dyers Store Volunteer Fire Department in Martinsville will receive $166,896 purchase self-contained breathing apparatus equipment.

The following Virginia fire departments will receive funding under the SAFER program:

• Norfolk Fire – Rescue will receive $1,035,021 to support hiring efforts.
• Spotsylvania County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management will receive $1,149,277 to support hiring efforts.
• Community Fire Company, Inc. in Exmore will receive $232,800 to support recruitment efforts.
• Fries Fire Dept. will receive $178,616 to support recruitment efforts.
• York County Fire and Life Safety will receive $698,314 to support hiring efforts.

The primary goal of FEMA’s AFG program is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters by providing direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services organizations and State Fire Training Academies for critically-needed resources. The primary goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments’ ability to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards. FEMA’s SAFER program specifically provides funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters available in their communities.