Hartford, CT – January 08, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) announced today that fire departments in Bolton, Ridgefield and Willington have been awarded federal grants totaling more than $57,000. The Bolton Volunteer Fire Department will receive $24,082, the Ridgefield Fire Department will be awarded $16,020, and the Willington Hill Fire Department will receive $16,982. The funds will go to improving operations and safety at their facilities. The grants were made possible by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program, which provides aid to first-responder programs nationwide with the aim of providing better equipment to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of the first-responders themselves.
“While firefighters in Bolton, Ridgefield, and Willington have an abundance of bravery, they do not have nearly enough funding,” said Dodd. “I am pleased that with these grants, each of these communities will be able to continue to rely on their well-trained and fully equipped fire fighters to protect them from danger.”
“Connecticut fire fighters constantly put their lives in danger and are the first line of defense during disasters,” said Lieberman. “We owe it to them, and to the residents of Bolton, Ridgefield and Willington, to ensure that they receive the best equipment and the best training available.”
Senators Dodd and Lieberman have a long history of advocating for fire safety. In 2000, Dodd authored and Lieberman cosponsored the FIRE Act, which gives local fire departments the ability to purchase new equipment and initiate education and training programs. In 2003, Dodd authored and Lieberman cosponsored the SAFER Act, a law that gives local fire departments the ability to alleviate critical shortfalls in professional and volunteer personnel. Since the SAFER and FIRE Acts were enacted, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, has distributed over 470 grants for a total of more than $47 million in Connecticut to help fire departments strengthen their response capabilities.
