DETROIT, MI – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that several local fire departments across Michigan will receive a total of over $2.5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program.

• Detroit will receive $354,545 for paramedic and fire marshal training.
• Peninsula Township will receive $17,744 to update their fire hose system. 
• Sodus Township will receive $809,548 to upgrade their air packs and breathing system.
• Bellevue will receive $907,727 to upgrade their air packs.
• Home Township will receive $372,844 to purchase a new fire truck. 

“Firefighters are an essential part of our communities and work tirelessly to protect Michiganders’ lives and property,” said Senator Peters. “This funding will help ensure that fire departments have the federal resources they need to keep our communities safe and to do their jobs safely and effectively.” 

“Our firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our families, homes, and communities,” said Senator Stabenow. “These new resources will help keep the public safe and give our first responders the training and equipment they need to do their jobs more safely and effectively.” 

“The Sodus Township Volunteer Fire Department along with Benton Charter Township Fire Department and St. Joseph Charter Township 1 & 2 Fire Department are so pleased to receive this FEMA grant. Sodus is a rural community that is pleased to support the community and help other township fire departments as well,” said Chief Everett Steinke of the Sodus Township Volunteer Fire Department. “This grant will go a long way to help us to upgrade our cascade system to a compressor and fill station. The grant will provide us with much needed new air packs, giving us lighter weight and more efficient time when in use. This helps us to be more compatible with our neighboring departments for mutual aid. Thank you to Senator Stabenow and Senator Peters for working to make this happen.” 

“The Peninsula Township Fire Department is very excited to learn that we have been awarded a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant for fire hose and associated appliances. These tools greatly enhance our ability to move large quantities of water when fighting fires in Peninsula Township,” said Fred Gilstorff, Fire Chief of the Peninsula Township Fire Department. “We deeply appreciate the support that Senator Peters and Stabenow show to the fire service in Michigan, especially Northern Michigan. Their dedication to the fire service in Michigan has been shown by many department’s receiving grants to improve service and make Michigan a safer place to live.”

“We’re grateful to Senators Peters and Stabenow for helping us secure this federal grant. This funding will help support paramedic and fire marshal trainings to ensure our staff is able to better protect our community safely and effectively,” stated Detroit Executive Fire Commissioner Charles Simms.

“We are grateful to Senators Peters and Stabenow for their help securing the Assistance to Firefighters Grant award. With this grant, we will replace our self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) which are our ‘airpacks’ that we use for firefighting, gas leaks, and other calls for service that present a respiratory hazard to our personnel. With these funds, our departments, seven in all, will be able to better serve our citizens, and our personnel by having reliable equipment that meets current standards for health and safety,” said Jacob Jackson, Chief of the Bellevue Community Fire Department. 

“We are so grateful to be able to receive this award.  These are much needed funds for a small community fire department that relies on public support and donations. The awarding of these funds will allow us to purchase and outfit a new truck for the community, which is greatly needed,” said Home Township Fire Chief Tim Irwin. “We are honored to accept this award. We are sincerely thankful to Senators Peters and Stabenow for their help securing this award and truly appreciate it.” 

More information about these grants can be found at: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters. 

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