Approximately $750 million for Sen. Mike DeWine's, R-Ohio, Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement Act has been appropriated for 2004, and Athens has not received any money so far.
Athens Fire Department applied for $38
000 to replace an aging air compressor Fire Chief Bob Troxell said. We didn't receive one for this year but we're still waiting.
The act provides competitive grants to assist local fire departments. Fire departments in 86 of 88 counties in Ohio have applied for assistance.
The Athens Fire Department received grants through the act in 2001 for $42,750 and in 2002 for $31,500, said Amanda Flaig, spokeswoman for Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio.
Amounts awarded differ because fire departments have different equipment needs, and money is awarded to the departments on a competitive basis, Flaig said.
Firefighters are our first line of defense and they need the equipment to save lives
she said.
Since 2001, $53,238,604 of federal grant money has been given to Ohio fire departments.
Grant money can be used to improve firefighting operations, fund firefighter health and safety programs, acquire new equipment, enhance Emergency Medical Service programs and conduct fire prevention and safety programs, according to the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
The Chauncey Dover Volunteer Fire Department received $30,600 in 2003 and $12,240 this year. The Ames-Bern Amesville Volunteer Fire Department received $5,873 in 2002 and $59,400 in 2004.
The Coolville Volunteer Fire Department received $45,900 in 2003, and the Glouster Fire Department received $76,176 in 2003.
The Federal Emergency Management Administration, under the Department of Homeland Security, distributes these grants. Grant applications are processed by the U.S. Fire Administration and reviewed by 300 fire service representatives from across the United States.
In 2002, 143 Ohioans lost their lives to fire, according to a report from Ohio State Fire Marshal Stephen K. Woltz.
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Megan Cotten
