MONROE - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded a $345,017 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to the City of Monroe Fire Department on Feb. 8. It also awarded $261,250 to the Browntown-Cadiz-Jordan Fire District on Feb. 1.
The grants enable local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs and buy equipment and response vehicles.
"This particular grant will benefit all the fire departments in the county," Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch said.
As president of the Green County Fire Chiefs Association, Rausch wrote the grant, and Monroe became the city hosting the grant.
Rausch said the grant money will be used upgrade departments on the county's public safety data system. Each fire department will receive two mobile data systems computers, including all the equipment needed for installation in trucks, plus licensing fees, to hook up to the county system.
In addition, 429 new pagers will be purchased, enough for every firefighter in the county.
Browntown Fire Chief David C. Plath said their grant is going for the purchase of a new pumper truck, to replace the 1976 Ford they have now.
"A new pumper costs over $300,000," Plath said. Cadiz and Jordan townships and Browntown will share in the cost above the grant funding, he said.
The new pumper will take its place alongside the fleet's other pumper, two tankers, two grass rigs and a rescue truck.
Plath said their grant application, submitted in the spring of 2007, asked for $376,000, but he believed the grant program's ceiling for a pumper was only $275,000, which is why FEMA dropped the total amount awarded. But still he is grateful.
"It's a good thing FEMA has these grants. We couldn't afford all that stuff," Plath said about the more rural communities.
There's no doubt that Plath, on the fire department for over 25 years, will be choosing the best truck he can get for the money. The 23 volunteers on the Cadiz-Jordan-Browntown Fire Department include his son, First Assistant Dave L. Plath. EMS Captain Kris Thomson, who wrote the grant for the department, is his son-in-law.
The department covers about 72 square miles and 1,900 people.
Nationally, the AFG 2007 awards, which are distributed in phases, will provide approximately $490 million to fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical services organizations throughout the country. Wisconsin was awarded about $17.1 million through 193 grants.
Since 2004, AFG has provided almost $3.1 billion dollars in grants to fire departments and first responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, vehicles and fire prevention activities.
The grants enable local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs and buy equipment and response vehicles.
"This particular grant will benefit all the fire departments in the county," Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch said.
As president of the Green County Fire Chiefs Association, Rausch wrote the grant, and Monroe became the city hosting the grant.
Rausch said the grant money will be used upgrade departments on the county's public safety data system. Each fire department will receive two mobile data systems computers, including all the equipment needed for installation in trucks, plus licensing fees, to hook up to the county system.
In addition, 429 new pagers will be purchased, enough for every firefighter in the county.
Browntown Fire Chief David C. Plath said their grant is going for the purchase of a new pumper truck, to replace the 1976 Ford they have now.
"A new pumper costs over $300,000," Plath said. Cadiz and Jordan townships and Browntown will share in the cost above the grant funding, he said.
The new pumper will take its place alongside the fleet's other pumper, two tankers, two grass rigs and a rescue truck.
Plath said their grant application, submitted in the spring of 2007, asked for $376,000, but he believed the grant program's ceiling for a pumper was only $275,000, which is why FEMA dropped the total amount awarded. But still he is grateful.
"It's a good thing FEMA has these grants. We couldn't afford all that stuff," Plath said about the more rural communities.
There's no doubt that Plath, on the fire department for over 25 years, will be choosing the best truck he can get for the money. The 23 volunteers on the Cadiz-Jordan-Browntown Fire Department include his son, First Assistant Dave L. Plath. EMS Captain Kris Thomson, who wrote the grant for the department, is his son-in-law.
The department covers about 72 square miles and 1,900 people.
Nationally, the AFG 2007 awards, which are distributed in phases, will provide approximately $490 million to fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical services organizations throughout the country. Wisconsin was awarded about $17.1 million through 193 grants.
Since 2004, AFG has provided almost $3.1 billion dollars in grants to fire departments and first responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, vehicles and fire prevention activities.