Rep. McHenry announces $1.3M in federal grants to Buncombe fire departments

Posted on — Community Bulletin

Press release from U.S. Rep Patrick McHenry:

Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) announced $1,301,175 in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant to two local fire departments in the Tenth Congressional District.

The grants will go to the City of Asheville Fire Department and the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department and come in the third round of this year’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant awards. These grants assist local fire departments by enabling them to increase their staffing and deployment capabilities in order to respond to emergencies whenever they may occur. Local departments applied for the grants from the program, which is administered by the Grant Programs Directorate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

The City of Asheville Fire Department was awarded a SAFER Grant of $535,275. According to Asheville Fire Chief Scott Burnette, the grant will allow the department to hire new career firefighters.

“The Asheville Fire Department serves the largest city in Western NC, and this grant will help the department to continue to meet the emergency response needs of one of America’s top tourist cities,” said Congressman McHenry.

Fairview Volunteer Fire Department was awarded a SAFER Grant of $765,900. “Fairview being awarded the SAFER Grant will greatly increase our staffing capabilities and allow us to hire nine new full-time firefighters,” said Fairview Fire Chief Scott Jones. “These positions are badly needed and will allow us to continue to serve our fire district in the most professional way possible.”

“The Fairview VFD has been prolific at winning FEMA grants in recent years, having won three Assistance to Firefighters equipment grants in the past four years,” said Congressman McHenry. “The SAFER Grant is the hardest of the Fire Act grants to get, but its impact on a community can be tremendous. I am looking forward to visiting Fairview and meeting the personnel who will be hired with this grant.”

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