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Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) announced today that local fire departments would receive more than $500,000 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). Rexford Fire District and Duanesburg Fire District #2 are set to receive $150,070 and $387,954 respectively to enhance operations and safety at the facility.

“Capital Region first responders routinely put themselves in harm’s way to protect our friends and neighbors in communities across the region. It is critical they have the training and most up-to-date equipment to continue to effectively protect the health and safety of the public,” said Congressman Tonko.

The primary goal of FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, the AFG has provided approximately $5.6 billion in grants to first-responder organizations to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, research and training. During fiscal year (FY) 2013, the AFG will award another $288.8 million to first-responder organizations that need support to improve their capability to respond to fires and emergencies of all types.

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