Panetta Announces $853,694 Federal Grant for Monterey County Fire Departments

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), announced that four Monterey County Fire Departments received a grant totaling $853,694 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. Awardees include the Seaside Fire Department, Gonzales Fire Department, Greenfield Fire Protection District, and Mid Coast Fire Brigade. This grant is made under the Fiscal Year 2016 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, and will be used for communications tools to enhance inter-operability.

"Firefighters and first-responders in Monterey County work hard every day to protect our families, so we need to provide them with the best resources available," said Congressman Panetta. "This Assistance to Firefighters Grant will immediately enhance inter-operability between stations so that each crew can keep providing their vital services to the citizens of Monterey County."

"Emergency communications equipment is a critical component of the public safety dispatch system," said Seaside Chief Brian Dempsey. "Clear concise radio communications are essential for our first responders to provide safe, efficient and effective emergency response to the public."

"Clear radio communications are essential for firefighter safety while operating at emergency scenes," said Gonzalez Chief Jason Muscio. "This grant will go a long way in helping to provide for the safety of my firefighters."

"Radio communications is a critical component of emergency scene management," said Greenfield Chief Rich Foster. "This grant will allow the Greenfield Fire District to upgrade our radios and improve emergency communications."

"Communication is the critical link between the success and failure of managing an incident. If our radios and equipment are aged or not working, that puts our communication at risk," said Mid Coast Chief Cheryl Goetz. "This grant will help us meet our fire service needs."

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an important component of the larger, coordinated effort to strengthen the Nation's overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and related hazards. Since Fiscal Year (FY) 2001, the AFG Program has provided approximately $6.7 billion in grants to first-responder organizations to obtain much needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, and training.

The purpose of the AFG Program is to award grants directly to fire departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations, and state fire training academies to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel. Using a competitive process that is overseen by fire service subject matter experts, grants are awarded to applicants whose requests best address the priorities of the AFG Program.