(BINGHAMTON, NY) Senator Fred Akshar joined local volunteer firefighters and EMS workers from across the 52nd Senate District to announce over two dozen funding grants to support local volunteer fire departments and emergency services squads totaling $125,000.  The grants will go toward a variety of projects depending on the needs of each department. Projects range from equipment and hose upgrades and replacements to new communications technology to help local volunteers better serve and assist the residents of the 52nd District.  

“We rely on our first responders during our most vulnerable times,” said Sen. Fred Akshar. “We turn to them during fires, floods, car accidents and medical emergencies and we breathe a sigh of relief when we see them arrive on the scene. I'm proud to be able to secure funding to assist these selfless members of our community to better serve and protect the people of the 52nd Senate District.”

The grants were outlined in this year's New York State Budget and are administered through the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). 

Full list of grants:

• Apalachin Fire Department, Inc. $5,000 - New SCBA air tanks
• Bainbridge Fire Department - $5,000
• Brisben Fire Department $5,000
• Campville Fire Department, Inc. - $5,000 - Wireless radio equipment for 2 water rescue boats
• Candor Emergency Squad, Inc. $5,000 - Technology upgrades, including a laptop and TV for dispatch and rapid response
• Chenango Bridge Fire Company, Inc. $5,000 - Thermal Imaging Cameras
• Chenango Fire Company, Inc. $5,000 - 18 personal emergency escape systems and self rescue ropes
• Chenango Forks Vol. Fire Company, Inc. - $5,000 - New communication equipment for paging
• Town of Colesville Fire Company No.1, Inc. $5,000 - Portable radio transceivers and two additional watercrafts
• Conklin Vol. Fire Department, Inc. $5,000 - New pagers
• Coventry Emergency Squad, Inc. $5,000
• East Maine Fire Company, Inc. $5,000 - Fire hose replacement
• Five Mile Point Fire Company, Inc. $5,000 - Equipment upgrades, including a Stokes basket for victim removal, chain saw, portable water tanks for brush fires, brush fire shirts, portable lights and command boards
• Greene Emergency Squad, Inc. $5,000
• Halsey Valley Fire Company, Inc. #2 $5,000
• Hancock Fire Department, Inc. $5,000
• Town of Hancock Vol. Ambulance Corps. $5,000
• Hillcrest Fire Company, Inc. $5,000 - Replacement turnout gear and SCBA air tanks
• Maine Emergency Squad, Inc. $5,000 - Auto Pulse cardiopulmonary resuscitation device
• McDonough Fire Department, Inc. $5,000
• Prospect Terrace Fire Company, Inc $5,000 - Outdated fire hose and nozzle replacement
• Newark Valley Fire Department $5,000
• Tioga Fire Company, Inc.#1 $5,000 -
• Waverly-Barton Fire District $5,000 - New hose and equipment
• Windsor Emergency Services, Inc. $5,000 - Equipment upgrades, including new pagers, uniforms and lettering for two newly acquired ambulances