PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 3, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives David Cicilline and Seth Magaziner announced $5,242,766 in new federal funding for four local fire departments across Rhode Island.

The federal awards through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs will support the hiring of new firefighters as well as the purchasing of new vehicles and equipment, and will improve public safety for numerous local communities.

Fire departments in the following communities will use these federal funds to hire personnel and purchase new trucks, safety, and communications equipment, including:

Cumberland: Over $450,000 to purchase a new fire engine which will allow for their existing 18-year old apparatus to be placed in reserve service. 

East Greenwich: Over $280,000 to improve the operations and safety of the department through acquisition of upgraded portable, mobile, and base radios and vehicle repeaters which allow for reliable communications during emergencies and while rendering mutual aid.

Smithfield: Over $3.6 million to hire 12 new firefighters, helping to achieve full-staffing levels for the department while reducing response times and increasing response efficiency across the town and for neighboring communities.

West Warwick: Over $900,000 to purchase a new 100-foot ladder truck with modern equipment and safety features that will replace the department’s current apparatus which is more than 24-years old.

“Making sure that Rhode Island’s local fire departments have proper staffing and modern equipment is essential to enhancing public safety across our state,” said Senator Reed. “These federal funds will help equip Cumberland, East Greenwich, Smithfield, and West Warwick with the resources and staff needed to respond to emergencies more efficiently and effectively, all while helping to ensure the safety of our firefighters.”  

“This federal funding provides long overdue equipment and technology upgrades and adds capacity to our local fire departments,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “I am committed to continuing to secure funding that supports our firefighters and strengthens public safety efforts across our state.”“This federal funding will provide critical resources to Rhode Island’s firefighters – improving safety and efficiency,” said Congressman Cicilline. “These are the types of investments we must continue to make to ensure public safety across our state.”

“Whenever Rhode Islanders are in crisis, firefighters stand ready to answer the call,” said Congressman Seth Magaziner. “These critical federal dollars will ensure that firefighters across our state have the necessary staff, vehicles, and equipment to keep our communities safe.”

“The new fire engine will greatly improve operations and safety for our firefighters and the citizens of Cumberland. It will enhance the reliability of our equipment as well as reducing the cost of repairs on an aging fleet,” said Cumberland Fire Chief Nick Anderson. “The Cumberland Fire Department would like to thank FEMA and the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation for their support of this program.”

“The East Greenwich Fire Department is very appreciative to be receiving this federal funding. The AFG award will provide us the funding to purchase new portable, mobile and base radios. This grant will dramatically improve radio communications during emergency incidents. We are very grateful to the members of our Congressional Delegation for all of their support,” said President of the East Greenwich Fire Fighters Local 3328, Captain William Perry.

“The Smithfield Fire Department is very grateful to Senator

On March 15, members of the Brownwood (TX) Fire Department performed the ceremonial wet down and push-in of its new rescue engine, the department said in a Facebook post. The engine is now fully equipped, in service and ready to respond to emergency calls.

Summitville Volunteer Fire Department recently purchased a collection of much needed equipment through a county incentive plan for installing free smoke detectors, manchestertimes.com reported.

The funding allowed the department to purchase a cascade air tank filler, battery powered fans to clear smoke-filled homes and some additional backup air tanks, the report said.

The new air tank filler, which costs about $40,000, fills tanks in much less time and includes a blast chamber in the event of a cylinder rupture, according to the report.

Michelle Mcconnaha
Ravalli Republic, Hamilton, Mont.
(TNS)

Mar. 15—Sapphire Lutheran Homes is hosting a fundraising dinner on March 24 for the new fire station being built by the City of Hamilton.

Dominic Farrenkopf, mayor and SLH community life director, said the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department is in “dire need of a new fire station” and that raising funds is important as inflation has increased the building costs.

“We’re still $1.2 million short,” Farrenkopf said. “Between when we approved the project and when we started to build, the costs of building materials and labor have increased because of inflation. We will have a fire station. It will happen as we have the plans ready to go. We’re hoping the community will recognize how important this service is, hold fundraising events, and make donations to the fire station.”

He said the city has secured loans, budgeted money, received grants and collected donations.

“It will be paid for, but we are hoping to continue to raise the difference needed to complete the fire station,” Farrenkopf said.

Sapphire Lutheran Homes is hosting a dinner at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 24.

The menu includes baby back pork ribs, barbecue chicken, beer brats, mac ‘n cheese, red-skin mashed potatoes, coleslaw, cornbread, strawberry shortcake, beer and wine.

“Essentially, we’ll have a gourmet meal and entertainment,” Farrenkopf said. “Steve Winkler who is most famous as the lead singer for ‘Who Dat’ is the entertainment. He will play the piano, sing and do a tribute to John Denver and Neil Diamond.”

Tickets to the dinner cost $100.

“Every ticket sold is also an entry into a raffle for a gift certificate of $150 to Bouilla that will be given away at the dinner,” Farrenkopf said. “It will be delicious and a good time to get together and raise some money for the fire station.”

The fire station will be a 17,000-square-foot facility on the southwest corner of Skeels Avenue and Foxfield Street. The new location will give firefighters room for equipment, common spaces and living quarters designed with firefighter safety in mind. The new station design includes four bays to house fire trucks, a fire hose tower, decontamination space, offices, counseling boxes and a fitness center.

The Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department Fire Station Fundraiser will be at Sapphire Lutheran Homes, 501 N. 10th Street in Hamilton. Call SLH at 406-353-2800 for tickets. Fundraising dinner sponsors include Sapphire Lutheran Homes, Flower Happy Floral and Gifts, Dowling Architects, The Coffee Cup Care, Quality Construction, Co., Bouilla, Mikesell’s Fine Jewelry, The Stock Farm Club, The Edge, and Hulteng, CCM.

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(c)2023 Ravalli Republic, Hamilton, Mont.

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