Stabenow, Levin Announce Grant for Onondaga Fire Department

Onondaga Fire Department will receive a grant from the Department of Homeland Security to help improve their operations and boost safety for their emergency personnel and the public, Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced today.

The department will receive $119,434 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security.

"Our firefighters provide critical, courageous service to communities across Mid-Michigan," said Stabenow. "This support will help make sure the Onondaga Fire Department has the resources it needs to protect the public."

"Communities everywhere turn to their fire departments for emergencies large and small," Levin said. "This grant will help provide needed assistance to the firefighters and EMTs of Onondaga Fire Department who stand ready every day to put their lives on the line for their community."

The awards announced today are for operations and safety improvements, and can fund items such as professional training, wellness and fitness programs and equipment, personal protective gear for firefighters, facilities improvements, and supplies that support firefighting and EMS operations.

Fire departments and emergency medical services (EMS) organizations across the country may apply to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program in different categories, and their applications must meet certain criteria established by the major fire service organizations. Applications are evaluated in a competitive process by a panel of peers from fire and EMS organizations.

More information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program can be found at www.fema.gov/firegrants.