State approves $114K grant for Kendall Fire Department
KENDALL – The Kendall Fire Department has been awarded a $114,000 grant from the state, part of $25 million for 65 volunteer fire departments and districts across New York to improve facilities, response capabilities and emergency preparedness.
These investments build on the $25 million previously awarded to 88 volunteer fire departments in October 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul’s Office announced.
With nearly half of New Yorkers relying on volunteer firefighters for fire protection and emergency response, this grant program helps offset the financial pressures of rising equipment and construction costs, ensuring local taxpayers do not bear the full cost of these essential safety upgrades, Hochul said in a news release.
“Our volunteer firefighters answer the call day and night, keeping New York communities across the state safe,” Hochul said. “By investing an additional $25 million in V-FIRE grant funding for volunteer firefighters, we are ensuring our local heroes are equipped with modern facilities, advanced gear and tools they need to respond quickly and safely when they get the call.”
The State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services administers the Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment (V-FIRE) Grant Program, which supports volunteer fire departments by upgrading and improving facilities and response capabilities through the following objectives:
- Facility Improvements: Funding the construction of new, or renovation of existing, fire stations, classrooms, meeting spaces, or training centers to ensure they are safe, structurally sound, meet current building codes, and promote safe firefighting practices.
- Equipment Purchases: Supporting firefighter health, safety, and wellness by providing up-to-date personal protective equipment (PPE), PPE washers and dryers, decontamination equipment and supplies, and effective exhaust removal systems.
- Additionally, the V-FIRE grants support the consolidation of fire service resources through regionalization efforts, allowing departments to expand their capabilities beyond traditional jurisdictional boundaries to enhance local, county, and statewide mutual aid response.
