Kanjorski Announces $59,400 for Buckhorn Community Fire Company #1
Over $3.9 million awarded to fire companies in the 11^th District since beginning of FIRE grant program

WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski today announced that the Buckhorn Community Fire Company #1 has been awarded $59,400 to replace all of the department's airpacks. 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.

Assistant Fire Chief Scott Traugh said the grant is "a big burden off our shoulders."

"Volunteer fire departments make all their benefits and profits through fundraisers, and if we don't get grants like this, it makes it hard to purchase anything," Assistant Chief Traugh said. "Monetarily, we wouldn't have been able to do this all at once like we need to."

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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