WASHINGTON – The Vails Gate Fire District will receive $207,000 in Department of Homeland Security funding for a tuition reimbursement program that will help recruit new volunteer firefighters who are looking to attend college or vocational school while serving the community.
The funding will also help retain existing firefighters who may otherwise not have the time to continue their department service because they need to work an additional job.
The money comes from the SAFER grant program established by FEMA to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase the number of trained “front line” firefighters available in their communities.
This is the same program that has just awarded the City of Newburgh a third round of $1.5 million to maintain its paid firefighter level and $110,000 to the Beacon City Fire Department to hire a recruitment coordinator. Newburgh operates a full-time paid department while Beacon has a hybrid department of paid firefighters and volunteers.
History comes to life for middle school children
April 27, 2024
