From the office of U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced the Abingdon Fire Company has been awarded $82,800 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase life-saving firefighting equipment. As the Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal funding for the fire grants program. Senator Cardin is a member of the Finance Committee.
“I know how important this funding is to Maryland communities – often it’s the difference between life and death. First responders protect our homes and communities, and the federal government has a responsibility to protect them by providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs safer and smarter,” Senator Mikulski said. “Every day when our first responders report for duty, they don’t know what they will face. That’s why I fight every year for the equipment, training, and staffing our protectors and communities deserve.”
“Our first responders are running towards danger to help others who are running for safety,” said Senator Cardin. “I am proud to fight for the federal investments that helps make sure that the brave men and women safeguarding our families make it home safely to their own. The Abington Fire Company is committed to what they do, but they need a federal partner to make sure they have the equipment and training they need to get the job done. This grant from the Department of Homeland Security is going to save lives and property in Harford County. ”
The Abingdon Fire Company will use the funding to purchase 40 sets of new turn-out gear to keep new recruits safe in the line of duty. The Fire Company was able to hire new recruits after using a $186,000 grant it received in 2010 through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response program (SAFER) to hire a staff person to recruit and retain volunteers. For more information, please contact Ronald Evans at 410-436-5896.
AFG grants fund firefighting equipment, personal protection equipment, training, firefighting vehicles, firefighter/first responder safety projects, and staffing recruitment and retention, as well as public fire safety education.
SAFER grants enhance the ability of grantees to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing. The objective of the program is to award grants directly to volunteer, combination, and career fire departments to help the departments increase the number of frontline firefighters, and to rehire firefighters who were laid off due to the economy.
Since 2001, Maryland fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) units have received more than $140 million in fire grant funding, over $2.5 million of which has gone to fire departments and EMS units in Harford County.
Dueces Wild says
If the public only knew how pathetic the all volunteer fire service was in the county. Of course you won’t hear about it from the individual fire companies, they will just continue to play politics. How many recommendations were implemented from the fire study that was done by an outside firm?
Keith Gabel says
Could you imagine the outcry if our local leaders decided to transform our (mostly) volunteer service into a paid professional service? Imagine how worse it would get if the said firemen then unionized like the deputies. It would be bedlam.
PowerCorrupts says
On please…a mere $82 thousand. I’m supposed to be excited about this? I doubt it will buy a single piece of high tech equipment….however….if our taxes stayed right here in Harford….the possibilities of using our own tax dollars for our own county could be staggering.
By the way….these are NOT Federal Funds…..this is are own money that they have stolen out of your weekly paycheck.
Wake up!
Kharn says
Maybe you should read the article instead of just commenting. $82k will buy 40 sets of turn-out gear.
The Money Tree says
True Kharn but since when did Homeland Security, a dept. created after 9/11 to combat terrorism, morph into a grant program for fire departments? This government is so frickin’ out of control. I think it’s great the fire department got some money – ridiculous that it came from Homeland Security. We are so screwed.
Hedley Lamarr says
Awesome, now more firefighters can show up for a shed fire to save lacrosse equipment.
mommas' little boyee says
Too bad you pay taxes and they used for something like fire protection. If you had a chance to not pay for fire protection and have the volunteers show up and save your sorry butt you would probably thank them but in your demented mind you would never have thought of payyeing them the salery or tools they need. Specially in Harford County being so close to a chemical dump such as APG and Edgewood Arsenal.
To ski says
This our Money, like some how out of there pocket!