Fire departments in Macedon and Sennett are among the recipients of more than $13.2 million in federal grants announced Tuesday for agencies across upstate New York. South Macedon Fire and Rescue plans to replace aging breathing equipment, while the Town of Sennett Fire Department appears on the recipient list released by Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
The senators said the $13,230,088.46 in awards comes through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grant and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response programs. The money supports protective gear, training, supplies and staffing, depending on the award. Their release did not provide an individual amount for South Macedon or Sennett.
South Macedon plans breathing-equipment upgrade
South Macedon Fire and Rescue serves about 9,300 residents across 39 square miles in Wayne County with 30 active volunteer firefighters, according to first assistant chief Christopher Creamer. He said the grant will help replace and upgrade aging self-contained breathing apparatus, which supplies breathable air during emergency responses.
The recipient list also includes the Town of Sennett Fire Department in Cayuga County. The release did not specify how Sennett will use its award. Other listed recipients include the West Lake Road Fire Association and the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
In Syracuse, a separate $857,024 award will fund classroom and hands-on driver training for nearly 400 fire department members. Fire Chief Michael Monds said the training is intended to reduce the risk of traffic collisions involving firefighters and apparatus.
North Tonawanda's $488,020.48 award will send eight firefighters — about 21% of its career staff — to a paramedic certification program. Fire Chief Doug Orlowski said emergency medical calls account for roughly 82% of the department's nearly 4,000 annual calls.
How the grants work
FEMA administers the firefighter assistance and staffing programs through the Department of Homeland Security. Fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations apply competitively, with awards based on program priorities and demonstrated financial need, according to the senators.
Schumer said he helped create the programs and supported the bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act, which extended their authorization through fiscal 2030. Gillibrand said the current awards are intended to address equipment, training and personnel needs.
The release lists dozens of recipients across New York but does not provide a complete award-by-award breakdown. It also does not give a delivery schedule for the equipment or training funded by the local grants.
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