GREENPORT—Greenport Fire Chief Gary Mazzacano announced that his department has received $228,000 worth of equipment as a result of 2013 FEMA grant.
The fire department completed a 19-month grant process which began March 28, 2013 when U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand notified the chief that his department won the FEMA Grant they had applied for to purchase 48 new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
The chief credited the determination and follow-up by the department’s training officer and past chief, who administered the grant for the department. Time extensions were necessary due to delays in the manufacturers NIOSH testing of the new updated products. Once completed, Greenport put out bids and received the grant money, the order was placed for the new air packs, spare bottles, new masks and training from Garrison Fire and Safety of Palenville.
Greenport firefighters attended numerous training sessions on the new air packs which have now been placed in service at all three Greenport fire stations.
“SCBA or air packs are extremely important to the health and safety of our firefighters,” Chief Mazzacano said in a press release. The new SCBA replace units that were more than 20 years old. “This is also a big boost for the taxpayers in the Town of Greenport as fire equipment makes up a large portion of the fire budget,” the chief said in the release.