Sen. Carper Congratulates Millsboro Fire Company on Recent Grant Award for New Protective Gear

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, visited the Millsboro Fire Company to highlight a recent grant award and tour the fire department. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded the Millsboro Fire Company with an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) worth $132,516. The fire company will use the grant money to purchase much-needed “turnout gear,” which is the protective outer layer of firefighter clothing.

“Every day, the men and women of our fire and emergency service organizations put their lives on the line to protect our communities and our property in Delaware, and it is critically important that we give them the equipment, training and resources necessary to do their jobs in a safe and effective manner,” said Sen. Carper. “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, will make a significant contribution to the Millsboro Fire Company’s tight budget, allowing them purchase protective turnout gear for roughly 47 firefighters over the next few years. Not only will the grant money allow the fire department to increase its effectiveness by outfitting new active firefighters, but it will also free up funding for other necessary first responder items like pagers and radios.”

The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

During his visit to the Millsboro Fire Company, Sen. Carper met with Deputy Fire Chief Greg Short and EMS Supervisor Tom Berry to discuss how the FEMA grant will help meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of the Millsboro Fire Company.

The Millsboro Fire Company has roughly 60 active firefighter members, all of whom are volunteers. The company also has 15 EMS staff – seven are full-time paid employees while the rest are part-time employees or volunteers. Last year, the company responded to about 500 fire calls and 2,000 ambulance calls.