Fire Chiefs Awarded Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Funded by FEMA

The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs was recently awarded a $256,254 grant through the Fiscal Year 2014 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program – Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

This funding will allow NYSAFC to expand its current fire prevention and public fire safety education initiatives. The association will be conducting smoke alarm installation and fire safety education projects in 10 communities across New York state that will target older adults who are at the highest risk for fire related injury and death.

Another component of the grant project will include a comprehensive home fire sprinkler campaign to raise awareness of the benefits and affordability of home fire sprinklers. The campaign will include public service announcements in print, online, and on radio and television.

NYSAFC will also be conducting live fire sprinkler demonstrations and developing educational resources for the public and the New York state fire service.

NYSAFC Executive Director Jerry DeLuca commented, "I want to thank Senators Schumer and Gillibrand along with the entire New York Congressional delegation for their support of this grant application to support fire safety and prevention in New York state. NYSAFC will use these funds to educate the fire service and citizens about residential sprinkler systems, which protect the public and our firefighters. Funding will also allow NYSAFC to provide fire safety education and increase the prevalence of functional smoke alarms in the homes of older adults statewide."