Homer Fire Awarded $3,500 VFC Grant Through DEC

On Friday, the Homer Fire Department was awarded a grant through the Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Grant program administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The department was awarded $3,500. The grant is a 50/50 matching fund program, meaning Homer Fire will have to match the $3,500 awarded.

Chief of the Homer Fire Department, Jay Riley, told X101 News the funds will be used towards the purchase of new hose lines for the department’s upcoming delivery of a mini-pumper fire truck. The department is expected to take delivery of the mini-pumper later this year. The hose purchases will assist the department with wildland firefighting, the new mini-pumper will replace the department’s aging truck that is utilized for wildland fires.

The new hoses will replace hoses nearing the end of their useful life, originally purchased in 2009. Riley says the department will purchase 50-foot sections of hoses for a total of 400 feet, adding members in the department prefer 50-foot over 100-foot sections.

The Village of Homer Board of Trustees is expected to formally accept the grant funding during their meeting tomorrow evening.