Kanjorski Announces $77,475 for Edwardsville Fire Department

WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today announced that the Edwardsville Fire Department received a grant for $77,475 for equipment, including pagers, turnout gear for volunteer firefighters, portable radios and an air compressor. The money is part of the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) grant program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"Fire departments find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet as operation costs increase and budgets decrease. Federal grants play a vital role in helping our fire departments purchase the most current equipment. Our firefighters face dangers each day that we cannot even imagine, and we owe it to them to protect them," Congressman Kanjorski said.

Edwardsville Fire Chief Ray King thanked Congressman Kanjorski. "Without his input, these grants wouldn't be there for us to get. Fire departments all over are very appreciative of these grants. We're ecstatic. You can't earn this kind of money from a spaghetti dinner and a dance," Chief King said. "Equipment gets obsolete, and then you've got a problem."

More than $7.5 million in federal grants has been awarded to fire companies in the 11^th congressional district since the FIRE grant program began. Edwardsville Fire Department was previously awarded a grant for $405,000 in 2003. To date, 72 fire companies in the eleventh district have received FIRE grants.