GA Fire Departments Receive $300K Grant to Upgrade Equipment

PRESS RELEASE

Bainbridge, Georgia — Fire safety upgrades are coming to Middle and Southwest Georgia thanks to an Assistance to Firefighters Grant led by U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock and Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.. 

Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock and Rep. Bishop are delivering new resources to Donalsonville, Bainbridge, and Crawford County to strengthen local fire departments and upgrade public safety. 

According to Bainbridge Public Safety Director Frank Green and Fire Chief Doyle Welch, the city will use the funding to purchase emergency equipment, including replacing antiquated self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipment.  

Per Donalsonville Fire Chief Dean King, the city will use its funding to replace 20-30-year-old equipment, including an electric smoke exhaust fan and old fire attack nozzles, and purchase new emergency equipment like axes and Halligan bars. 

Crawford County, which previously received funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program, will now also receive $27,415 through the Federal Fire Prevention & Safety Grant (FP&S) program to carry out fire prevention education and training, including fire code enforcement, fire/arson investigation, firefighter safety and health programming, and more. 

“Firefighters across Georgia put their lives on the line to keep families safe,” Sen. Ossoff said. “Senator Warnock, Congressman Bishop, and I are delivering these resources to help Georgia’s heroic fire departments respond to emergencies that threaten lives and property.”  

“Our firefighters are some of the best among us. They run into danger to preserve our safety, and they are beacons of courage and resilience in every corner of Georgia. That is why I am honored to join Senator Ossoff in announcing these new investments in public safety for fire departments across the state,”said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Senator Ossoff, Congressman Bishop and I will continue working to secure additional investments so these brave public servants are able to protect and serve to the fullest of their abilities.” 

“The presence of a well-equipped Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) department can mean the difference between life and death when disaster strikes,” said Congressman Bishop. “I work hard with my colleagues to ensure FEMA has the resources to support our small and rural communities like Bainbridge and Donalsonville. By doing so, the federal government can be a reliable resource for our Fire and EMS departments across Middle and Southwest Georgia so that they can recruit, retain, train, equip, and ensure the safety of our first responders as they, in turn, keep all of us safe.” 

“Bainbridge Public Safety Department is very grateful to receive this FY23 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG),” said Bainbridge Public Safety Director Frank Green and Fire Chief Doyle Welch. “The emergency equipment the City of Bainbridge will be purchasing with this grant money is vital to Public Safety’s everyday emergency operations and firefighter safety as well as public safety. This AFG grant will provide our agency with the means of replacing antiquated Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) equipment and becoming current with NFPA standards.” 

“The funds from the AFG grant will be used to upgrade some of our equipment and to purchase much-needed items that we need to add to our existing fire engines,”said Donalsonville Fire Chief Dean King. “The equipment that will be replaced is 20-30 years old, some of it being donated to us by other fire departments. The new equipment that will be purchased includes an electric smoke exhaust fan, several thousand feet of 2.5″ and 3″ hose, fire attack nozzles for different size hoses, adapters for the hose, and several items of loose equipment such as axes, Halligan bars, and pike poles that will allow us to better serve the needs of our community.” 

Please find a summary of grant awards below: