Washington, DC – Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) announced today that the Washington, Illinois Fire Department will be receiving an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG).
The Washington, Illinois Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc. is being awarded $42,750.00. This grant will allow for the purchase of a new air compressor. This purchase will allow the fire fighters the ability to fill their air tanks at the station rather than relying on a vendor.
“This grant is a worthy investment in the Washington Fire Department. Part of ensuring our firefighters are in the best position to do the most good is ensuring they have the equipment and resources they need,” said Schock. “This grant will the fire station to purchase a much needed a air compressor that will allow the fire fighters on site access to fire their air tanks at the station so they are prepared to respond to any emergency at a moment’s notice.”
“I’m very grateful we have been awarded this grant which will allow us to purchase an air compressor, an essential tool for our firefighters,” said Chief Mike Vaughn. “This grant comes at the right time for our fire station, and I am appreciative that the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program exists to help firefighting districts and local community departments, like ours.”
The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is an important component of the larger, coordinated effort to strengthen the Nation’s overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and related hazards.