NEWBURGH – The City of Newburgh’s Fire Department will have
full staffing levels for at least another two years as the federal government
has approved another $2 million grant to retain 15 full-time firefighters.
Two years ago Washington approved the first $2 million grant and that
was about to expire.
Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Sean Patrick
Maloney and city officials all lobbied for the money to be renewed and
word came down from Schumer and Gillibrand on Wednesday that it had been.
Mayor Judy Kennedy said she is “very, very happy that we can now
keep our firefighters. I hated the thought of having to lay any of them
off. I am thrilled that they can stay with the unit and they have been
a good part of the team.”
The mayor said hopefully in the future, the city will be able to retain
all of the firefighter positions in its own budget.
The federal funding comes from the SAFER – the Staffing for Adequate
Fire and Emergency Response grants program.
