$1.68M In FEMA Funding To Hire 6 New Firefighters In New Rochelle

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The New Rochelle Fire Department will be able to hire six new firefighters thanks to new FEMA funding announced on Wednesday.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced on Wednesday over $4.5 million in federal funding for the Cities of New Rochelle, Jamestown and Fulton to hire new firefighters.

"Firefighters from Jamestown to Fulton to New Rochelle have worked non-stop battling on the frontlines of the pandemic and keeping our communities safe, and when I heard our fire departments were struggling to keep staffing up I promised to deliver the fed dollars to give our heroes the support they need," Schumer said. "That is why I am proud to deliver this major over $4.5 million federal boost so our Upstate and Hudson Valley fire departments can hire new desperately-needed firefighters without bearing the financial stress. I’ve fought my whole career to bring more federal resources to support our brave firefighters, and this will keep our New York fire departments prepared to take on any emergency."

The New Rochelle Fire Department will receive $1,679,796, which will allow for the hiring of six new firefighters. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program.

"We are grateful to Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for their support in helping us obtain this grant," New Rochelle Fire Chief Andrew Sandor said. "The SAFER Grant is a vital tool for delivering emergency services and will strengthen our fire department with 6 new firefighters."

The Jamestown Fire Department and the Fulton Fire Department, both upstate, will receive $1,816,201 and $1,062,804, respectively.

"Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe," Gillibrand said. "We owe it to them to ensure that they have the resources and personnel they need to respond to emergencies as quickly as possible. Today, I’m proud to be delivering over $4.5 million in federal funding to battle ongoing staffing shortages in fire departments across New York and I will keep fighting to get more federal resources to our first responders."

The AFG and SAFER grant programs are administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to purchase essential equipment and help them increase the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis to the applicants that most closely address the program’s priorities and demonstrate financial need.