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Hoyer Announces Federal Grant for St. Mary's County Fire Department

December 16, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD)announced today that theSecond District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad in Valley Lee, MD, has been awarded $55,100 in federal grant funds through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The funding will be utilized to help bring the volunteer fire company in compliance with National Fire Protection Association standards. The Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad operates as a volunteer organization and provides fire, rescue, and EMS services to the surrounding community.

"I am pleased that the Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad was awarded this grant, which will help bring the volunteer fire company in compliance with National Fire Protection Association standards and ensure our firefighters have every resource available to efficiently and safely undertake their mission," stated Congressman Hoyer. "As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I am proud that the AFG program is working to ensure that our fire departments in Maryland and throughout the country are best prepared for emergencies, and better equipped to do their jobs."

The grant award will be used for the procurement and installation of a Vehicle Exhaust Extraction System for the station's fire apparatus and ambulance bays. The Back-In 100% Capture Extraction System will reduce health and safety risks associated with diesel exhaust and carbon monoxide, preventing the carcinogenic hazards from lingering within their Fire and EMS bays and spreading to adjoining areas such as living quarters, office space, and community hall. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have declared this exposure an occupational carcinogenic hazard and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1500-2002 "recognizes and advocates the need for elimination and containment of all vehicle exhaust emissions to a level of no less than 100% effective capture."

Ricky Nelson, Chief at the Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, stated: "I am pleased that the Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad is the recipient of this very important grant funding. This funding will provide our department with needed resources to keep our firefighters safe as they work to ensure the safety of our community and all of its people."

Grant funds made available through the AFG Program are awarded to fire departments and EMS organizations across the nation to enhance their response capabilities and more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel. Since 2001, AFG has provided nearly than $6 billion in assistance to first-responder organizations to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, and training. In this current round the AFG will award approximately $405 million in competitive grants to fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations throughout the nation.

As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Caucus, Congressman Hoyer took a lead role in helping establish the AFG Program. He also helped establish the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters (SAFER) Program to help fire departments hire new firefighters, recruit and retain volunteer firefighters, and provide relief to stations operating short of staff.

For more information on grants available to fire departments and emergency responders, click here. This site also offers resources to help fire departments prepare and submit grant requests.