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Yesterday, the City of Cortland Fire Department Chief Wayne Friedman announced that the fire department has received a grant from the Assistance to Firefighters totaling $382,958 dollars.
The grant will go towards an exhaust extraction system at the former NYS Armory on Wheeler Ave in Cortland for $97,202 dollars. The system being installed will be for 7 connections costing $13,886 each and will protect firefighters and others using the building safe from diesel exhaust fumes.
EMS training is also a part of the grant, awarding $285,756 dollars in total. The grant will allow the Cortland Fire Department to send four current career firefighters EMTs to Paramedic class. Chief Friedman notes the department currently has six firefighters that are cross-trained as paramedics and training four additional firefighters will help put the department in a better position to serve the City of Cortland.
Currently, the City of Cortland Fire Department responds to 3,500 EMS calls each year. Chief Friedman and Cortland Mayor Scott Steve thanked Federally elected officials, Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillbrand, and Claudia Tenney for their support on getting the grant.
In her letter of support, Tenney wrote, “I am in strong support of the Department’s efforts to secure these grants to keep first responders and the community the Department serves safe by providing valuable training and gear for the department.”
Mayor Scott Steve said “This award will have a great impact on the safety of our firefighters and help them better serve the Citizens of the City of Cortland and our mutual aid partners.”
