Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—June 1, 2015. Congresswoman Robin Kelly announced today that the Richton Park and Riverdale fire departments were each awarded federal grants from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program.
“Providing our firefighters with the best equipment and protective gear helps keep them safe as they risk their lives to save others,” Congresswoman Kelly said. “I’m happy to have helped secure this critical funding because it is our firefighters who are on the front lines of protecting our communities.”
Richton Park will use its $135,620 grant to purchase emergency breathing equipment for firefighters.
“Proper equipment is critical for our firefighter’s safety when responding to emergency situations within our community,” Richton Park Mayor Rick Reinbold said. “I am very appreciative of Congresswoman Kelly’s support in the pursuit of this grant opportunity.”
The Riverdale Fire-Rescue Department will purchase firefighting helmets with the $4,286 grant it received.
“We try to maintain all of our personal protective equipment and firefighting gear to be in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association standards. But many of our current helmets were purchased in the late 1990s or early 2000s, exceeding the ten-year life cycle of the helmets,” said Robert Scharnhorst, chief of the Riverdale Fire-Rescue Department. “These new helmets will better protect the firefighters of Riverdale.”
The Assistance to Firefighters Grants program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The purpose of the grants is to enhance the ability of fire departments and other emergency management organizations to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responders.
Source: robinkelly.house.gov
