Press Releases

West Pittston, PA – Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded the Mt. Zion Bicentennial Volunteer Fire Company with an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). The funds will be distributed via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The Mt. Zion Company received a $23,481 Operations and Safety grant. These funds will allow the fire company to purchase supply and attack hoses, nozzles, and electric and gas powered tools and obtain firefighter training. This will improve fire operations and fire safety, and ensure firefighters have the proper education needed to do their job safely.

“Day in and day out, first responders selflessly put their lives in harm’s way,” said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program continues to be a critical resource for these volunteer companies, and I will continue to support them in every way I can.”

The purpose of the AFG is to award competitive grants directly to fire departments to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel.  Since 2001, the AFG program has provided approximately $6.7 billion in grants to first-responder organizations to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, and training.

During the current funding cycle, the AFG program will award another $310.5 million to first-responder organizations that need support to improve their capability to respond to fires and emergencies of all types.