Fire academy receives $300K federal grant

MONTOUR FALLS--U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Monday, May 4, $313,914 in federal funding for the New York State Fire Training Academy in Montour Falls to purchase new equipment to prepare and train for emergency situations more effectively. The money was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). The State Fire Training Academy will use this federal investment to purchase two Computerized Fire Ground Simulation Labs and a Multi-Jurisdictional Disaster Management Simulator.
"These much-needed federal funds will enable our State Fire Training Academy to invest in the critical disaster and rescue training equipment they need to keep first responders safe and effective during emergency situations," said Schumer. "Our first responders are our local heroes--they are our primary line of defense and protect our residents and property. That is why it is crucial that we provide them with the cutting-edge equipment and training they need to do their jobs and save lives. Firefighters from all over New York State routinely travel to Montour Falls for training and this funding will help enable the academy to continue to provide top notch education for them."
"We must ensure that our first responders who put themselves in harm's way have the most up-to-date equipment and training they need to help save lives," said Gillibrand. "The Montour Falls State Fire Training Academy will use this funding to purchase critical equipment that will help train our first responders act appropriately during emergency situations."
"This grant will help the Office of Fire Prevention and Control add to its top-notch equipment and foster effective multi-agency response, ensuring that training stays up-to-date for the brave men and women who serve communities across the state," said New York State Fire Administrator Bryant Stevens. "Our office trains as many as 50,000 firefighters each year, with more than 6,000 attending our training facility in Schuyler County, so useful, relevant training exercises are of the utmost importance not only for the safety of our firefighters, but to the citizens they help day in and day out."
The funding provides the state's fire officers with a training facility to enhance decision making skills when dealing with fire and disaster scenarios. Fire simulators are used to develop critical decision making skills in realistic situations within a safe environment. Labs will also be used in the state's fire officer development courses.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grants are administered by the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the Department's United States Fire Administration. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis to the applicants that most closely address the program's priorities and demonstrate financial need. More information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program can be accessed at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/.