By Liz Page
LEEDS – The ride from Stamford to Leeds last Friday was one that was full of anticipation and hope as two fire commissions and the chief of the Stamford Fire Department traveled to the Leeds Fire Hall where Governor Kathy Hochul awarded $25 million in state funds to improve facilities and response capabilities for volunteer firefighters.
"We had no idea how much we had been awarded," said Stamford Fire Chief Don VanEtten."We received an email asking us to come to the Leeds station."
It wasn't until after the press conference they learned via email that the Stamford Department had been awarded $300,000 of the $350,000 grant for which they had applied.
Tim Powell, chairman of the Stamford Joint Fire District Commissioners, who wrote the grant, and Bill Sharick, a member of the department and a commissioner, traveled with VanEtten. They met with the Governor and other fire officials at the Leeds Fire Station. Leeds received $1 million to construct a new fire station.
The funding, provided through the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, was awarded to 88 entities across the state, through the Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment Grant Program, according to a news release from Hochul’s office.
The state funding for the initiative is divided into two tracks of eligible projects — facility improvement projects or equipment purchase projects.
“Volunteer firefighters exemplify the best of public servants, and an investment in them is an investment in the safety of the communities they serve,” said Governor Hochul. “These grants will give volunteer firefighters the resources they need to continue protecting New Yorkers; support befitting of their professionalism and the invaluable weight of their efforts.”
Across the state, many volunteer fire departments are struggling to maintain their facilities and the equipment that keeps New Yorkers safe. This program will assist in ensuring that fire stations and fire training facilities within New York State are safe, structurally sound, meet current building codes and regulations, and support or promote effective and safe firefighting practices.
The Stamford Department will use the grant money to purchase new turnout gear for interior and exterior firefighters. "A significant portion of our current gear is aging out," said VanEtten. "We have also had an influx of about 20 new members and we have no additional gear to supply those members."
The department's air packs are also aging and many can no longer be repaired. New air packs are expensive to purchase. "This will allow us to circulate the old air packs out of service and it will give us some backup units. This will allow us to bring the personal protective gear up-to-date both for our interior and exterior firefighters."
The Stamford Fire Department has added several new members to the department, a unique situation compared to the lack of volunteerism trend that is occurring nationally. "It is important to make sure each member of our department is fully protected," said VanEtten.
The V-FIRE Grant Program supports volunteer firefighter safety and health and wellness by providing adequate and up-to-date equipment to include personal protective equipment, decontamination equipment and supplies and effective exhaust removal systems, the release stated.
Additionally, the program will support the consolidation of fire service resources through regionalization efforts to expand beyond jurisdictional boundaries to further enhance local, county, and statewide response efforts.
Allowable costs include the construction of new, or renovation of existing fire stations, classrooms, meeting spaces, or training centers as well as the installation of exhaust and decontamination systems, or the purchase of equipment such as firefighter Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), PPE washers and dryers and firefighter rehabilitation equipment.
State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Our volunteer firefighters put their lives on the line every time they suit up to help others in need. Through the V-FIRE Grant Program, we are working to ensure they have the resources they need to do their work safely and effectively. We thank our volunteers for their service and are grateful for the work they do to keep their communities safe.” Applications from volunteer fire departments were evaluated and scored competitively by a team at the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services using a multi-tiered listing of criteria, the release stated. The scoring process evaluated the timeliness and completeness of applications as well as a number of other factors including the department’s annual operating budget. Those with smaller annual operating budgets were given priority.
Other departments in Delaware County that received funding, included the Kortright Rural Fire District in the amount of $30,000 to purchase equipment and the Arkville Fire District in the amount of $61,191 to improve facilities. (See separate story on Schoharie County grant recipients.)
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