Area firefighters to receive federal funding

WINSTED — Winsted, Winchester and Barkhamsted fire departments are among the recipients for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA is awarding $1,486,506 in direct assistance grants to 98 volunteer and combination fire departments nationwide through the 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant COVID-19 Supplemental program.

Fire departments in Winsted, Winchester, New Hartford and Riverton are receiving a combined grant totaling $32,095.

Other recipients include Westfield Fire District, Middletown; Monroe Volunteer Fire Department No. 1;

New Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department; and the Stamford Fire Department.

Authorized and funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, the Fiscal Year 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant COVID-19 Supplemental is a $100 million supplemental funding opportunity to support the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and related disinfectant supplies and equipment to help the fire services prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement.

By law, 25 percent of the available AFG-S funds must be awarded to volunteer fire departments and another 25 percent must be awarded to combination fire departments. The funding being announced Friday encompasses the fulfillment of that requirement to volunteer and combination fire departments. A volunteer fire department means a fire department that has an all-volunteer force of firefighting personnel. A combination fire department means a fire department that has paid firefighting personnel and volunteer firefighting personnel. Fire departments which pay fees/stipends (paid oncall firefighters) are also considered under this category, according to the statement.

Additional information about FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters grant programs may be found at https://www.fema.gov/firegrants