Providing Public Service to Our Friends and Neighbors In The Community Since 1904

NORTH BOSTON RECEIVES FIRE GRANT IN SEVENTH ROUND

North Boston Residents Win Big  in FEMA Grants

September 5, 2001

 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced September 4, 2001 fire departments that would receive grants in the seventh round of awards under the Assistance to Firefighters Program. The North Boston Fire Company was one of Ten New York State Fire Companies that were awarded the funds on September 4th; among 213 fire departments across the United States that will receive $7.8 million in grants awarded under the Assistance to Firefighters Program. More than $3.1 million of the funds in this round are to be used for personal protective equipment, $1.8 million for fire prevention programs, $1.2 million for vehicles, $1.1 million for wellness and fitness programs, $530,161 for firefighting equipment. 

Fire prevention is a key element to making our nation’s communities safer,” said FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh. “President Bush and I hope the fire prevention grants announced today will be a boost to local efforts to reduce the loss of life and property from fires.”The total assistance provided to date has now reached $57.3 million. FEMA will distribute $100 million in grants through Sept. 30. Authorized last year by Congress, the grants will reach rural, urban and suburban fire departments. 

The grant application process started last fall, with the initial announcement, and subsequent filing of the application by Fire Company Officials. Lead by Chiefs Richard Lee and Sean Crotty, and assisted largely by Firefighters Mark Kaminski and Rodney Carr. A lot of effort and time was put into the filing of 2 grant applications, one for training, one for Fire Prevention. Since May, when the deadline for applications was, the applications have been processed by the U.S. Fire Administration and reviewed by representatives from seven fire service organizations. In each case, the federal grants will be supplemented by local funds, in which the Fire Company is to contribute 10% of the cost. 

This is an excellent opportunity to infiltrate the community to create a safer, more fire safe community in which our residents live in. This permits the Fire Company to better prepare, educate, and install measures for people to utilize in the event of a fire emergency in their home. The North Boston Fire Company will be contacting residents for the distribution of the escape ladders and Smoke/CO Detectors via the bi-annual  newsletter, postings, and website based information. The Fire Prevention Committee has established criteria for distribution, and will be posted at a later date, closed to Fire Prevention Week October 8-12. For more information on how to obtain the criteria for eligibility, contact us via email at northbostonfire@aol.com. 

FEMA Website announcing September 4th Grant Awards.

FEMA Fire Act Home Page