Fire Department To Get New Radios Thanks To $100K State Grant

VISTA, NY — Volunteer firefighters will get a potentially lifesaving communications upgrade thanks to a hefty grant from the state.

NYS Senator Peter Harckham recently announced that he secured $100,000 of state grant funding for the Vista Fire Department to purchase new radio equipment that will better meet safety standards.

The grant was funded by the State and Municipal Facilities Program (SAM), which is among the grant programs administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), to support community and economic development.

"I am pleased to deliver this state grant to the Vista Fire Department for communication upgrades knowing how necessary they are," Harckham said. "Critical infrastructure funding for first responders is an investment that helps safeguard our residents, local businesses and also the brave volunteers, like those in Vista, who serve and protect us."

Two-way radios are vitally necessary for volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel with quick and reliable communication at the scene literally being the difference between life and death.

The Vista Fire District No. 1 has been using older radio equipment when responding to calls and operating at the scenes of fires and other emergencies. Older radios are susceptible to interference from vehicle ignitions, electric motors, high-voltage transmission lines, computers and various light sources.

These older radios will be replaced with powerful new units that are durable, waterproof and can be integrated with a repeater system if necessary. Additionally, the new units can be supported and serviced by the manufacturers. Upgrades to the newer two-way radios that combine paging with message playback will also eliminate the need for fire and EMS personnel to carry two separate devices.

"Obtaining this state grant for our radio replacement project will lend much needed improvement for our communications system so we can adequately and effectively continue to serve our Vista Fire District community," Vista Fire Department Chief Jeff Peck said. “Radio communications is the nucleus of emergency response, and we look forward to improving our system with the support of Senator Harckham.”

Harckham's office reports that he has secured more than $700,000 of state grant funding for firefighters in the 40th Senate District since 2019.