Kanjorski Announces $112,500 for Nescopeck Township Volunteer Fire Company #1
More than $3.8 million awarded to fire companies in the
11^th District since beginning of FIRE grant program

WASHINGTON- Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today announced that the Nescopeck Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 Inc. has been awarded $112,500 for a new fire truck. The money is part of the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) grant program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"Volunteer fire departments find it increasingly difficult to come up with the money to buy much-needed equipment. I am pleased that the federal government is providing the money for these men and women who are out there saving lives while risking their own. We owe it to them to do all we can to help provide equipment that protects them," Congressman Kanjorski said.

Fire Chief Robert Beattie was thankful for Congressman Kanjorski's help.

"We wouldn't be able to stay in business much longer without his help and others like him. We wouldn't work without grant programs, and I don't know who will provide fire protection in rural areas if these grant programs go away," Chief Beattie said. "For a town like ours, this is a God-send."

Chief Beattie said the Township's current fire truck dates back to 1976 and that Nescopeck is the third fire company to own it.

"This will be the first time this fire company has had a truck less than 20 years old," Chief Beattie said, adding that the brakes on the current truck do not work correctly and force the firefighters to take a timelier route to avoid driving down hills. "It was getting to be at a critical point. This grant will literally more than likely save lives."

In December 2003, the Nescopeck Township Volunteer Fire Company won a $59,697 FIRE grant to purchase new equipment to replace gear that was 15 to 18 years old.

Congressman Kanjorski was among 286 cosponsors of the FIRE Act of 2000.

President Bush's proposed 2005 budget would cut Homeland Security Department funding for firefighters. The President's first two budgets did not include FIRE grant funding, but Congress stepped up to ensure that the nation's firefighters were not shortchanged.

"Cutting funding for FIRE grants is unacceptable. These federal dollars are vital to the continuation of our fire stations and fire companies in Northeastern Pennsylvania as well as across the nation," Congressman Kanjorski said.

A June 2003 independent task force report entitled "Emergency Responders: Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared" indicated that only 10 percent of fire departments have the personnel to handle a building collapse.

"Long before Sept. 11, it was evident that our firefighters lacked the necessary tools they need," Congressman Kanjorski said. "While we still have a long way to go to get our emergency responders the tools they need, FIRE grants provide a good first step in eliminating some of the deficiencies in equipment and training."

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