Courtney Announces $12,000 Grant to Upgrade Salem Fire Department Equipment

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney announced that the Town of Salem Fire Department will receive a $12,048 grant Operation & Safety Grant to acquire a thermal imaging camera, which will enable firefighters to see through smoke. The grant was made available through the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“Through this grant, Salem’s first responders will have greater capability to protect their fellow citizens. These AFG grants provide critical, supplemental funding to keep our towns’ firefighters equipped with the latest and most effective tools to perform their jobs skillfully and safely,” Congressman Courtney said.

"The Salem Volunteer Fire Company is very grateful to be awarded this grant. We recently completed a risk assessment for the immediate needs of the Fire Company and found that a new thermal imaging camera was ‘mission critical’ to increase the safety of our members and to the residents of our town. This will aid in the efficiency and effectiveness of a job that we all volunteer and love to do. The long process was completed by our volunteers to relieve the burden on our taxpayers and help our small community" said Richard W. Martin, Fire Chief, Salem Volunteer Fire Company.

Congressman Courtney has consistently supported funding for the AFG Program since his arrival in Congress. Since 2001, the AFG has assisted first-responder organizations to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, and training.