By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and West Haven Fire Department Chief James P. O’Brien on March 7 announced a $2.67 million federal grant to hire eight firefighters in the department.
DeLauro, D-3, said the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant will fund recruitment and the “enhancement of existing firefighting abilities” for the West Haven department, which serves the First Fire Taxation District, also known as the Center District.
According to DeLauro, the SAFER program was created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency “to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, ‘front-line’ firefighters available in their communities.”
DeLauro, Rossi and O’Brien heralded the funding at a news conference attended by more than two dozen firefighters, officers, chiefs and commissioners from the West Haven, West Shore and Allingtown fire departments at West Haven fire headquarters on Elm Street.
They were joined by state Rep. Treneé McGee, D-West Haven, and city Grant Coordinator Doug Colter and assistant grant writer Olivia Bissanti.
At the morning announcement, DeLauro also touted a previously announced $927,333 FEMA grant for new firefighter radios.
The fire radio replacement grant, announced by DeLauro on Jan. 30, is part of round 15 of FEMA’s fiscal year 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown Chief Michael R. Terenzio, whose department hosted the application and received the grant, said the regional award will pay for mobile, portable and base radios that will benefit the Allingtown department as well as the West Haven and West Shore departments.
DeLauro, speaking in front of a new Allingtown triple-combination pumper truck funded by the AFG program, said the new radios will “strengthen protection of the people of Connecticut’s 3rd Congressional District.”
DeLauro, the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, said: “These critical grants will prepare our first responders for the lifesaving work of fighting and preventing fires. This federal funding plays an important role in guaranteeing they have the tools to protect themselves and the health and safety of the public.”
According to DeLauro, an Assistance to Firefighters Grant is a competitive grant awarded to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public and first responders. Fire departments and EMS organizations can use the grants to buy emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, and training materials, she said.
The AFG program is part of a coordinated effort by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security to improve the nation’s ability to respond to emergency situations.
Rossi and McGee thanked DeLauro for securing the SAFER and AFG funding. They also thanked Colter for writing and submitting the grants.
“I am happy to be here today to highlight the increased funding to the city of West Haven, which will benefit our brave firefighters across the city,” Rossi said. “I would also like to thank Chief O’Brien, Chief (Stephen) Scafariello (of the West Shore Fire Department) and Chief Terenzio, as well as all the servicemen and -women across the three fire districts for their continued service to the city of West Haven and its residents.”
O’Brien lauded DeLauro for her support of the fire service and lobbying on behalf of the departments. Terenzio and Scafariello also thanked DeLauro.
“We could not (pay for firefighting apparatus, equipment and training) without federal funding and assistance,” O’Brien said.
DeLauro and the chiefs also praised Colter for his assistance in writing the grants.