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ALBANY, NY –  U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Paul Tonko announced this morning that a combined $311,746 has been awarded to the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC) through the Department of Homeland Security FY2016 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program. The award will support two NYSAFC projects:

-          $88,086 for a Smoke Alarm Installation Project to install 2,500 smoke alarms in the homes of seniors age 65 and older. This project will also include fire safety education that specifically addresses each recipient household’s fire risks.

-          $223,660 to develop a Home Sprinkler Informational Campaign including creation of a home sprinkler public service announcement (PSA), press events to showcase live fire sprinkler demonstrations, production and distribution of an informational home sprinkler fact sheet, various educational workshops, a telephone town hall meeting for the fire service, an online Home Sprinkler Education and Awareness Toolkit, an intensive sprinkler and fire safety social media campaign, and other public outreach and education at home shows and the New York State Fair.

“Fire safety and prevention programs play a crucial role in protecting our communities,” said Senator Schumer. “The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs’ Smoke Alarm Installation and Home Sprinkler Education and Awareness Projects will play a vital role in that protection. I’m proud to announce this critical federal investment and will continue working to make sure New York’s first responders have the support and tools they need to keep our communities safe.”

“These funds will provide our first responders with the tools they need to help educate the community about fire safety and prevention,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will also go a long way to help make the homes of many local seniors safer with the installation of new smoke detectors. We need to do everything we can to ensure our first responders have the resources necessary do their jobs effectively, and I will always fight in the Senate to make sure they are given the support they deserve.”    

Congressman Tonko praised the projects, saying: “We know all too well that our firefighters are the last line of defense against tragedy for families, businesses and communities all across New York. Our first line of defense has to be prevention, and that starts with public awareness. These worthy projects will help ensure New York seniors are living in homes with smoke alarms that will keep them safe, and we all benefit from greater awareness of other available fire prevention measures. I want to congratulate the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs for spearheading these worthy projects to keep our families, businesses and communities safe.”

Jerry DeLuca, Executive Director & CEO of NYSAFC, highlighted the importance of raising awareness about fire safety and prevention measures, adding, "On behalf of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, I want to thank Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Tonko and the entire New York Congressional Delegation for their support of this grant initiative. These funds will allow NYSAFC to continue our efforts to educate and inform the public and the fire service about the importance of home fire sprinklers. Fires burn eight times faster in modern construction than in older homes. Home fire sprinklers are proven to reduce the risk of perishing in a fire for New Yorkers of all ages. In addition, we will continue our multiyear effort to reduce fire injuries and fatalities among older New Yorkers by providing smoke alarms to fire departments for distribution in their communities."

The awards announced above come through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) FY2016 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program. AFG grants are competitive and awarded directly to fire departments to protect public and first-responder health and safety. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

This funding is part of round 3 of the competitive FY 2016 announcements. For more information on the grants, visit the AFG website at www.fema.gov/firegrants. 

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