Hoyer Announces $1.8 Million SAFER Grant for Bowie Volunteer Fire Department

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) today announced that the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad will receive a $1,877,000 Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The grant will help the department retain and recruit staff so the department can better serve the citizens of Bowie and surrounding areas in Prince George's County.

"This SAFER grant will help the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department with their efforts to retain and recruit the best applicants for the department and to provide firefighters with the necessary training and resources they need," said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer. "As a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Caucus, I've been a strong supporter of our firefighters and first responders, and I am pleased that they will receive this funding to ensure that the fire department is adequately staffed to respond to emergencies and save lives in Bowie and neighboring communities."

"This funding is greatly needed and will be used in very prudent and effective ways to retain the well-trained personnel we already have, increase our membership, and most importantly to raise the level of emergency service that the citizens deserve," said David Parker, Jr., President of the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad, Inc. "This grant will have a profound impact on our readiness and capabilities moving forward. Our Department would like to acknowledge the efforts of Sergeant Babette Gainor and Assistant Chief Pete Mellits for their tireless efforts leading up to the submission of this grant application."

SAFER grants enhance the ability of grantees to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing. The objective of the program is to award grants directly to volunteer, combination, and career fire departments to help the departments increase the number of frontline firefighters and to rehire firefighters who were laid off due to the economy. The funding will help create a more favorable working environment for volunteer firefighters and assist with enlisting and/or retaining volunteer firefighters who are trained in the operations of firefighting and emergency response.