The city of Auburn has received a federal grant of $219,122 to buy new portable radios for the fire department.
FEMA grant will allow AFD to upgrade its emergency communications
The grant was announced at this week’s City Council meeting by acting City Manager Jenny Haines, the city Director of Planning and Development, filling in for the vacationing Jeff Dygert. Auburn City Clerk Chuck Mason says the radios will allow the fire department to upgrade to the latest communications technology.
It took a while for the grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters program to come through. The city applied for the grant last year. The city will match ten percent of the amount, bringing the total cost of the radios to $241,035.
Related: Five rescued, cause of Auburn apartment building fire under investigation
Quill testimony before Congress helped keep program alive
In June 2004, Mayor Michael Quill, in his first stint as Mayor, testified in favor of renewing the grant program at a hearing of the House Science Committee, chaired by upstate Congressman Sherwood Boehlert. The hearing was held at the Auburn Fire Department. Quill had previously served as Auburn Fire Chief.
I hope the Department of Homeland Security views this type of local and regional cooperation and coordination to be viable and worthy of funding support.
In closing, Mr. Chairman, I’d like to thank you and the Members of your committee for taking your valuable time to come here and conduct this hearing on this very important issue.
The fire service needs and warrants the Fire Act. This program is definitely a win-win for the fire service as well as the people
that we serve and protect. Thank you.
Auburn Mayor and former Fire Chief Michael Quill
When the new radios come in, the old ones will be used by other city departments.
Listen to my full Inside the FLX conversation with Auburn City Clerk Chuck Mason below.
Related: Former Republican Rep. Sherwood Boehlert passed away late Monday night
