MCGRAW, N.Y. – The McGraw Fire Department will purchase some much-needed equipment after receiving more than $200,000 in federal grant funding, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Monday.
The McGraw Fire Department has been awarded $202,381 in funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.
“We appreciate the grant. It is a tremendous help to our department,” McGraw Fire Chief Tom Heller said in a statement. “The amount we received is a lot of money for this department and this much needed funding will be put to good use.”
The department will use the funds to purchase a pumper fire engine, Schumer said.
“It is critical that we provide our local fire companies with the most up-to-date resources and tools they need to keep our citizens safe and do their jobs effectively,” Schumer said in a statement. “Our first responders are our local heroes and our primary line of defense – it is crucial we provide these fire districts with the cutting edge equipment and protective gear they need so they can continue to do their important work of saving lives.”
The McGraw Fire Department received a portion of $645,000 in federal funding that was allocated to seven departments throughout the central New York region.