Tunnelton Volunteer Fire Department in Preston County will get money to help it grow.
It is one of two VFDs in West Virginia to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the $965,520 for the Wilderness Volunteer Fire Department in Mount Lookout in Nicholas County and the Tunnelton VFD.
The funding is made possible through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program and will provide critical resources to the fire departments to increase their number of frontline firefighters and promote public safety.
“Our brave West Virginia firefighters risk their lives every day to protect our communities, and we must ensure they have the necessary equipment and resources to do their jobs safely and effectively. I am pleased FEMA is investing more than $965K to strengthen fire safety in Mount Lookout and Tunnelton and help the volunteer fire departments hire additional frontline firefighters. The funding will strengthen emergency preparedness across our great state and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of these investments,” said Manchin. “As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to support our firefighters as they work tirelessly to protect West Virginians across the Mountain State.”
The SAFER program is one of three grant programs under DHS and FEMA that focuses on enhancing firefighter safety and public safety as it relates to fire hazards. Since FY 2005, the SAFER Program has awarded approximately $4.8 billion in grant funding to provide critically needed resources to hire new firefighters, rehire laid off firefighters and retain firefighters facing layoff, as well as to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters. The funding announced today will assist the two fire departments in increasing their number of firefighters to meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate fire protection for the communities.
Wilderness VFD will receive $879,840 and Tunnelton VFD will get $85,680.
