The Town of Dryden has announced the Dryden, Etna, Freeville, and Varna Fire Departments have been awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant for the amount of $397,710. The funding will be spent over the next four years.
In a release, the Town of Dryden says the grant funds will go towards the four departments to recruit new members and encourage existing members to stay active in their departments and respond to more 9-1-1 calls.
“In the past decade 911 calls for fire/EMS help in the Town of Dryden have doubled. At the same time the number of active volunteer firefighters and EMTs in the Town have dropped by approximately 50%. The Town of Dryden has been working with its fire departments to address this critical issue.” The Town of Dryden said in a release.
Aside from recruitment efforts, funds will also be used to purchase protective equipment, pay for required physical exams firefighters must undergo yearly, reimbursement for new members who drive to required training classes (NYS requires firefighters to spend about 150 hours in both classroom and hands on training before they can enter a burning building).
“New York’s firefighters work tirelessly to protect our communities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This federal funding will provide New York’s firefighters with the essential training, equipment and supplies they need to respond to emergency situations safely and efficiently. I will continue to fight to ensure New York’s firefighters are well-equipped to protect our communities and save lives.”
Additionally, the Marathon Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps has received $6,000 in federal funding. The funding will go towards the purchase of new pagers for MAVAC Medics, EMTs, and Drivers in aid to replacing their aging communications equipment.
In total, New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirstin Gillibrand were able to secure another $3.6 million for fire departments in Upstate NY. The funding was allocated through the US Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs.
