From the office of U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski:
U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced the Water Witch Fire Company in Port Deposit, Maryland has been awarded $24,178 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.”
“The Water Witch Fire Company works hard around the clock to protect their community. They put their lives on the line and deserve a federal partner to help supply equipment as vital as Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses,” said Senator Cardin. Our first responders and their families deserve the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing that they have the equipment, and training needed to do their dangerous jobs and come home unharmed.”
The Water Witch Fire Company will use the competitive award to purchase a new fire hose to replace one that does not meet National Fire Protection Association standards and is no longer serviceable. Fire hoses are one of the most basic tools of the fire service. Safe and reliable fire hoses enable firefighters to directly combat fires to protect themselves and citizens during fire emergencies. For more information, please contact Wayne Tome at 410-378-4223.
AFGP 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.
Since 2001, Maryland fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) units have received over $145.8 million in fire grant funding, just over $3 million of which has gone to fire departments and EMS units in Cecil County
sliggott says
Barbara does a great job continuing to contribute to our national deficit spending and increasing debt. This federal funding “grant” is borrowed money for all Americans. She, like most politicians we send to congress, don’t get it! Please e-mail her to let her know you don’t agree with her actions.
A realist says
A new “FIRE” hose for a “FIRE DEPARTMENT” sounds like a pretty good investment if you ask me. Especially to replace one that is below standards and non – serviceable. Well worth adding to our national deficit… Hope you’re house doesn’t catch on fire sliggott.