Two area fire departments land federal grant money for training | News

WASHINGTON, DC (WBTV) - U.S.
Senator Kay R. Hagan, D-NC, announced Friday that five North Carolina fire
departments would receive a total of $1,139,178 through the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.

"This
funding helps provide our local fire departments with the tools and training
they need to keep North Carolina families and communities safe," said
Hagan.  "I am proud to support North Carolina's first responders who work tirelessly, often
putting their own lives in danger, to protect our families. I will continue
fighting to ensure our first responders have essential equipment, prevention
programs, training, and staffing to maximize safety and response-time for our
neighborhoods."

AFG
grants help fire departments and EMS organizations, which are not affiliated
with a hospital, to obtain critically needed
communications equipment, protective gear, training and other
resources.  Senator Hagan has been an avid supporter of the AFG
program in the Senate to help communities struggling with tight budgets. These
grants will upgrade response capabilities and improve safety for emergency
response personnel and communities.

"This
grant will allow Harrisburg Fire Department along with other surrounding
Cabarrus County Fire Departments to move into the next technological phase of
radio interoperability," said Harrisburg Fire Chief Bryan
Dunn.  "This includes more reliable communication, which ultimately
translates to a higher level of safety for the firefighters.  Without
this funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Cabarrus County Fire
Departments would be unable to purchase radios."

A full list of grant recipients is below:

Town
of Harrisburg Fire Department; Cabarrus County, NC – $994,320

White
Plains Volunteer Fire Department, INC.; Surry County, NC – $73,806

Highlands
Fire and Rescue; Macon County, NC – $54,881

Cherryville
Fire Department; Gaston County, NC – $10,471

The
City View Volunteer Fire Department, INC.; Forsyth County, NC – $5,700

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