Sanford D. Bishop Jr.
Sanford D. Bishop Jr.
05/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/08/2024 21:09
CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES OVER $938,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO PROTECT SUMTER COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS
CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES OVER $938,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO PROTECT SUMTER COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS
August 5, 2024
AMERICUS, Ga. -Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., (GA-02) is pleased to announce that the Sumter County Fire Department has been awarded a $938,857.14 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The program is administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
"Our firefighters in Sumter County and throughout Georgia put their lives on the line to respond to emergencies in our communities and keep our families safe. But firefighter equipment and training can be a large expense, especially for smaller departments, municipalities, and counties with more limited budgets," said Congressman Bishop. "I am proud to support strong funding for federal programs like Assistance to Firefighters Grants that support our fire departments with the resources they need to best protect us all."
"I am excited to say that every dime of this grant will go toward purchasing 90 self-contained breathing apparatus and 22 sets of turnout gear for our firefighters. This equipment will allow my first responders to protect the citizens of Sumter County more confidently," said Sumter County Fire Department Chief Jerry Harmon. "They each know that their job bears certain risks that most other jobs do not. This equipment not only helps them protect the citizens of our community but also helps ensure that each of them will return home to their families after each shift."
"As a small, rural department that relies both on inmates and volunteers to fight fires alongside our paid staff, we often have to stretch our resources to the limit to protect our citizens. As the chief of our department, the burden of protecting each of those firefighters as they protect others falls upon me. In order to do that, we need up to date equipment for everyone. The cost of this equipment has continuously risen and quite simply puts our department and many others like ours in tough positions," added Chief Harmon.
Since January of 2023, fire and emergency services departments in Crawford, Grady, Houston, Macon, Muscogee, and Schley Counties have received over $1.8 million in federal funding through FEMA's AFG and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs to assist in purchasing equipment, recruitment, and training.
Since 2001, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant has helped firefighters and first responders obtain equipment, protective gear, and other resources that are vital to protecting the public and emergency personnel. Fire departments interested in learning more about the program and how they can apply for funding in future cycles should visit FEMA's website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/assistance-grants(link is external).
The SAFER Grants provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities. Fire departments interested in learning more about this program can visit https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safer(link is external).
###