An assessment deemed Fire Station #1 on the Route 250 Bypass as being no longer adequate. The 3,200 square-foot station was built in 1961, and is not able to hold modern-day equipment: “Not really enough space to be able to house modern-fire apparatus, and all the supporting space that you need to support all of the missions that we do now because we do fire, emergency medicals services, hazardous materials, special options, technical rescues, community risk reduction. All those activities have to be supported out of every one of our fire stations," said Charlottesville Fire Chief Andrew Baxter.  

The aging structure is also raising health concerns.

"The number-one killer of firefighters in the United States is cancer,” Baxter said. “So there's ways to engineer the building and design the building in such a way that it reduces our firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens and toxins."

The West Hamilton Beach Fire Department, located at 103-23 Davenport Court, received a water pump, strainer, and a hose, according to Pheffer Amato’s office. The pumps include a large 2.9-gallon fuel tank that can run for six hours at a time.  

“The need to stay safe with persistent flooding is of utmost importance in the Hamilton Beach community. Preparedness is key, and this water pump will go a long way in ensuring we are ready at a moment’s notice,” said Pheffer Amato.

Deputy Chief Nick Spinelli of West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department was grateful for the gift and what it will do for the local community.

The district will purchase 30 sets of head-toe personal protection equipment that includes bunker coat, bunker pant, helmet, boots, gloves and protective hoods. The AFG program is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.According to FEMA, the primary goal of the grant is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, this program has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.