Kent County Volunteer Fire Department Receives $54,000 Grant

DOVER, DE – A new fire truck is on its way to Kent County. Senator Tom Carper announced today that the Little Creek Volunteer Fire Company has been awarded a $54,000 grant for a new brush truck. The new two and a half ton truck will be used to tow the county’s hazardous waste decontamination trailer. Carper, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, applauded the federal funding for its commitment to firefighters and recognition of their heroic acts in the front line. “The new dual purpose brush truck replaces those that were outdated and obsolete. The new vehicle will allow Kent County rescue workers to fight grass fires and chemical spills more efficiently,” Carper said. “For years Delawareans have been aware of the vital role our volunteer fire companies play in the day to day safety and security of our citizens. This grant will further enable the Little Creek Fire Company to provide the services that its residents have come to expect and need.” Winning the award in the eleventh and final round, the competitive process saw $2.9 billion in requests for $100 million in grant money. The Little Creek Volunteer Fire Department is among 128 fire departments across the United States that will receive a grant in the eleventh round of awards under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters program. In each case, the federal grants will be supplemented by local funds. “This award allows us to purchase equipment we didn’t allow for when we budgeted ten years ago,” Michael Scott Bundek, Fire Chief of Little Neck’s Volunteer Fire Company said. “FEMA’s grants allow us to reach our goals 15 to 30 years earlier than we planned.” “Any doubts about supporting the outfitting of our local firefighters were erased Sept. 11 when the men and women of the local fire departments responded so ably and bravely to the terrorist attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon,” said FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh. The Congressional Fire Services Caucus is the largest caucus in Congress with more than 320 members. Its purpose is to unite Democrats and Republicans in support of fire service legislation that benefits emergency response personnel.