MARYLAND - Maryland’s US Senators and Congressman Andy Harris have announced more than $2 million in federal funds for Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, Worcester, and Cecil County Firefighters.
According to the lawmakers, the funding aims to bolster firefighters’ emergency response capabilities and their ability to shield both the public’s and their own safety.
The funds originate from the Department of Homeland Security’s FY2022 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program as well as the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response awards.
The allocations to fire departments are as follows:
-$399,371.42 to Berlin Fire Company, Inc. in Worcester County to purchase 42 sets of new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) to replace units that are outdated and no longer compliant with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards;
-$206,533 to the Fairmount Volunteer Fire Company in Somerset County to purchase 16 sets of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus to replace units that are outdated and no longer compliant with NFPA standards and to replace its Air Cascade Refill station;
-$201,800 to the Oxford Fire Department in Talbot County to purchase 22 sets of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus to replace units that are outdated and no longer compliant with NFPA standards and to replace its Air Cascade Refill station and 2 Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) kits;
-$68,571.42 to Hoopers Island Volunteer Fire Co. in Dorchester County to acquire 20 sets of Personal Protective Equipment;
-$136,631.81 to Cecil County to acquire 25 sets of Personal Protective Equipment and 4 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus units;
-$368,412.27 to the Water Witch Fire Company, Inc. in Cecil County to provide 86 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for six departments across Cecil County – Water Witch Fire Company in Port Deposit, Cecilton Fire Company, the Singerly Fire Company in Elkton, Hacks Point Fire Department in Earleville, the Volunteer Fire Co. of Chesapeake City, and the North East Fire Co.;
-$286,363.63 to the Water Witch Fire Company, Inc. in Cecil County to acquire 9 new cardiac monitors;
-$466,900.00 to the Community Fire Company of Perryville, Maryland, Inc. in Cecil County for the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. With the opening of Great Wolf Lodge, the Department has received an increase in calls for emergency response;