Lynbrook, NY - September 18, 2015 - U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice (NY-04) today announced that the Lynbrook Fire Department has been awarded $164,660 in federal grant funding to provide training and purchase new personal protective equipment. The funding was awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, which provides grants directly to fire departments for projects that enhance public health and safety as well as the health and safety of emergency response personnel. The Lynbrook Fire Department will use the funding to provide training and purchase 75 complete sets of personal protective equipment, including helmets, boots, gloves, hoods, pants and coats. The Lynbrook Fire Department’s grant application was prepared by the Mineola-based company Grant Guys.

“This much-needed federal funding will provide the assistance that the Lynbrook Fire Department needs to purchase protective firefighting equipment,” said Senator Schumer. “First responders are our primary line of defense—they safeguard our residents and protect our property. It’s crucial that we provide our fire departments with the resources they need to do their jobs to the best of their ability.”

“Our first responders are on the frontlines and this funding will allow the Lynbrook Fire Department to invest in critical protective equipment to carry out their lifesaving work more effectively,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Our firefighters should have the most up-to-date equipment when they respond to emergencies.”

“Our local firefighters risk their lives to protect us, and they rely on this funding to get the gear and training they need to protect themselves as they run into burning buildings and respond to dangerous emergencies,” said Representative Kathleen Rice. “I’m very pleased that this grant will allow the Lynbrook Fire Department to purchase 75 new sets of protective equipment for our brave and selfless firefighters, and I’ll keep working to ensure our local first responders have the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

“Getting grants like these certainly helps run a modern-day, professional fire department and my Chiefs and firefighters are very pleased, as am I,” said Village of Lynbrook Mayor William Hendrick.

“This grant is a tremendous benefit to both the Department and the people of the Village we serve,” said Lynbrook Fire Department Chief James McDermott. “It allows us to provide our volunteers with state of the art firefighting gear, as they endeavor to protect the lives and property of our residents. We are grateful to Congresswoman Rice, Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for their assistance in securing these much needed funds.”