The Schenectady County Legislature awarded grants totaling $50,000 to local fire departments through the County’s Fire Service Improvement Grant Fund tonight. All departments that submitted a request were awarded grant funding.
The funds were appropriated by the Legislature in the 2021 budget to help local departments enhance their capabilities in response to the impact and magnitude unusual storms, natural disasters and everyday responses have on their resources. Since 2019 the Schenectady County Legislature has awarded approximately $150,000 to local fire departments through the grant.
“Volunteer fire departments provide vital services that our communities rely on every day,” said Legislator Thomas Constantine, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety & Firefighting. “The fire service grants will help departments enhance their capabilities to ensure the safety of our residents and the volunteers serving their communities.”
“The Schenectady County Fire Services Grant money is very important to our volunteer agencies,” said Scott Pike, Schenectady County Fire/EMS Coordinator. “Through this grant, many Schenectady County volunteer fire departments are able to purchase equipment that will help them, and their mutual aid departments to operate more efficiently at emergency scenes.”
The following departments were awarded grant funding:
Beukendaal Fire Department - $7,900
South Schenectady Fire Department - $4,000
Glenville Hill Fire Department - $5,700
Pattersonville Fire Department - $5,000
Thomas Corners Fire Department – $8,000
Alplaus Fire Department - $6,011
Pine Grove Fire Department - $7,689
Scotia Fire Department - $5,700
Funding will be used to purchase training equipment, hydrant markers, thermal imaging cameras, a rescue boat and outboard engine, rescue gear and other items.