WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that $1,478,994.39 in federal funding for fire departments across New York State, it was announced Monday, July 15. The funding will be used to provide protective gear, training, and supplies to emergency personnel across 16 fire departments. This federal funding was administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG).
“From Watertown to Whitney Point, our brave firefighters are always on the frontlines risking their lives to protect our communities,” said Schumer. “This $1.5 million federal investment means better training, protective gear, and equipment that our firefighters need to keep themselves and New Yorkers safe. I stood with firefighters across Upstate NY to push to reauthorize the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which this critical federal funding comes from, and I will always fight to keep New York’s dedicated firefighters prepared to take on any emergency.”
“New York’s firefighters work tirelessly to protect our communities, yet many fire departments across our state are operating with outdated fire trucks and protective gear,” said Gillibrand. “This federal funding will provide them with the new equipment, training, and resources they need to stay safe as they respond to emergency situations. I will continue working to ensure that New York’s fire departments have what they need to defend our communities on the front lines.”
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The competitive grants are awarded to the applicants that most closely meet the program’s requirements and demonstrate a commitment to its priorities. The funding will be used to supplement the operations and safety of fire departments, including professional training, wellness programs, purchasing personal protective equipment and upgrading facilities and supplies.
Funding recipients listed below:
| Region | Organization | City | County | Federal Funding |
| New York City | City of New York Fire Department | Brooklyn | Kings County | $74,120.86 |
| Hudson Valley | Arlington Fire District | Poughkeepsie | Dutchess County | $219,018.18 |
| Hudson Valley | Kripplebush Fire District | Stone Ridge | Ulster County | $114,285.71 |
| Hudson Valley | Highland Lake Fire Department | Highland Lake | Sullivan County | $52,095.23 |
| Capital Region | Village of Scotia | Schenectady | Schenectady County | $34,857.14 |
| North Country | City of Watertown Fire Department | Watertown | Jefferson County | $181,363.63 |
| North Country | Chazy Fire District | Chazy | Clinton County | $157,695.23 |
| North Country | West Leyden Fire Co Inc | West Leyden | Lewis County | $67,239.04 |
| Southern Tier | Village of Whitney Point Fire Department | Whitney Point | Broome County | $167,619.04 |
| Southern Tier | City of Binghamton Fire Department | Binghamton | Broome County | $68,181.81 |
| Southern Tier | City of Cortland Fire Department | Cortland | Cortland County | $47,766.66 |
| Southern Tier | Elmira Fire Department | Elmira | Chemung County | $27,009.92 |
| Central New York | City of Fulton | Fulton | Oswego County | $133,580.95 |
| Central New York | City of Auburn | Auburn | Cayuga County | $45,071.81 |
| Central New York | Sempronius Fire Co, Inc | Moravia | Cayuga County | $17,994.28 |
| Western New York | Fredonia Fire Department | Fredonia | Chautauqua County | $71,094.90 |
