East Rockaway Fire Department to Receive $14,250 in Federal Grants

The East Rockaway Fire Department has been selected to receive $14,250 in federal “Assistance to Firefighters” grants from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy announced Thursday.  

The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters grants is to “meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations,” according to the agency.  

Edward Reicherter, Chief of the East Rockaway Fire Department, said the grants will help provide the department with the resources they need to perform their duties. Specifically, it will be used to provide protective and life-saving equipment, he said.

“I would like to thank my department’s grant committee for the hard work and dedication they gave towards reaching this goal,” Reicherter said. 

”These grants are competitive, and require many hours of research and documentation to show our compliance with federal safety and staffing mandates,” he said. “I am very proud of the hard working men and women of my all volunteer fire department, and the dedication they display on a daily basis.”

 East Rockaway Mayor Francis T. Lenahan said this is the tenth consecutive year the department has been successful in being awarded the grant. In total, he said the department has been awarded in excess of $1.85 million in grants.

“These federally funded grants allow the Fire Department to recruit and retain volunteer members, and to procure essential equipment while keeping the cost burden away from our local taxpayer,” Lenahan said. “I commend the Fire Department for this outstanding achievement.”

Rep. McCarthy holds workshops for fire departments in her district to advise them on federal grants and how to apply for them.  Fire departments looking for help any time of the year can contact Rep. McCarthy’s district office at (516) 739-3008.