WASHINGTON – The federal Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program has announced that the Monticello Joint Fire District will receive $268,809 to purchase 40 sets of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
The announcement seemed to be a race for federal lawmakers to take credit for the funding.
Congressman Antonio Delgado “announced” the grant in a 10:30 a.m. Friday news release. Three-and-a-half hours later, a news release from Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand “announced” the grant.
Delgado’s announcement quotes Retired Deputy Chief Carl Houman as saying, “Our station has a long history of protecting the Monticello and Thompson communities, and these funds will allow us to keep residents and our first responders safe.”
The announcement from Schumer and Gillibrand quoted Fire Chief Marc Friedland. “This grant allows us to upgrade 40 self-contained breathing apparatuses that will replace our masks and cylinders. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant allows fire departments like ours to grow and serve our community.”
