For Fair Haven fire chief Roger Granatiero, hearing that the fire department would be receiving a $90,000 Department of Homeland Security grant was like winning the lottery.
The department received notice Friday of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant to help pay for needed equipment. For a small community, that amount of money makes a big difference, Granatiero said.
”We couldn't believe it,“ he said. ”After what happened in Louisiana and Mississippi, we kind of thought all the FEMA or Homeland Security funds would go down there.“
Granatiero said the department had applied for the past four years for the grant but had been denied.
The department applied for the grant to pay for new equipment including five mobile radios, five portable radios, 10 sets of turn-out gear, five sets of self-contained breathing apparatus packs, a new air compressor and new scuba diving gear, Granatiero said.
Granatiero said having the new air compressor in particular would benefit the department. In the past, the department had to travel to Auburn or Red Creek to fill bottles using their air compressors.
”Now, that's going to be a life saver,“ he said. ”We can fill them right at the station.“
Fair Haven also has an accomplished scuba diving team within the fire department that is called upon throughout the county. Granatiero said the team would benefit greatly from new equipment.
The grant will cover about 95 percent of the cost of the new equipment. Granatiero said the department would have to pay between $4,000 and $5,000 toward the purchases.
While the fire department receives strong financial support from the community in donations and fund-raisers, Granatiero said because of its value, the grant will have an especially large impact.
”Being a small community, it really benefits us deeply,“ he said. ”I don't know if we got lucky this year or if it was just our turn. ... For $90,000, you've got to flip a lot of chickens and have a lot of fund-raisers.“
Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net
”We couldn't believe it,“ he said. ”After what happened in Louisiana and Mississippi, we kind of thought all the FEMA or Homeland Security funds would go down there.“
Granatiero said the department had applied for the past four years for the grant but had been denied.
The department applied for the grant to pay for new equipment including five mobile radios, five portable radios, 10 sets of turn-out gear, five sets of self-contained breathing apparatus packs, a new air compressor and new scuba diving gear, Granatiero said.
Granatiero said having the new air compressor in particular would benefit the department. In the past, the department had to travel to Auburn or Red Creek to fill bottles using their air compressors.
”Now, that's going to be a life saver,“ he said. ”We can fill them right at the station.“
Fair Haven also has an accomplished scuba diving team within the fire department that is called upon throughout the county. Granatiero said the team would benefit greatly from new equipment.
The grant will cover about 95 percent of the cost of the new equipment. Granatiero said the department would have to pay between $4,000 and $5,000 toward the purchases.
While the fire department receives strong financial support from the community in donations and fund-raisers, Granatiero said because of its value, the grant will have an especially large impact.
”Being a small community, it really benefits us deeply,“ he said. ”I don't know if we got lucky this year or if it was just our turn. ... For $90,000, you've got to flip a lot of chickens and have a lot of fund-raisers.“
Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net
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