Rob Creenan – Niagara Gazette, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Jul. 26—U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced $665,000 in federal funding for upstate fire departments, including three in Niagara County.
The Upper Mountain Fire Co. of Lewiston, Olcott Fire Co., and St. Johnsburg Fire Co. of North Tonawanda are among the nine companies across the state receiving the funding. It will go towards new protective gear, training and supplies for emergency personnel.
The federal funding comes through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The received amounts are:
—Upper Mountain Fire Co.: $140,529.52
—Olcott Fire Co.: $127,428.57
—St. Johnsburg Fire Co.: $34,857.14
“Brave firefighters across Upstate NY, from Oriskany to Olcott, risk their lives to protect our communities,” said Schumer in a statement, “so we need to do all we can to provide them the resources they need to be well-trained and well-protected.”
Steve Miller, the assistant chief for the Olcott Fire Co., said they would use this for two new LUCAS devices that assist in CPR and state-of-the-art monitors for their emergency services.
“We’re going to have the best of the best with EMS,” Miller said.
The Olcott Fire Co. did receive $19,226 from this same grant program in June 2023. That went towards thermal imaging equipment for their firefighters.
Around $1.5 million was already appropriated through the program to state fire departments earlier this month. The Fredonia Fire Department was the only Western New York department to get funding that round, with $71,094.90.
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