In collaboration with the Potomac Valley Volunteer Fire Company, the Washington County Division of Emergency Services received a $1.9 million Regional Assistance for Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fund equipment for firefighters.
“On behalf of the entire Board of County Commissioners for Washington County, MD, I extend our appreciation to Potomac Valley Volunteer Fire Company for your efforts to assist our County in obtaining a FEMA Grant Award,” said Board of County Commissioners President Jeffrey A. Cline. “The grant will help provide critical equipment needed for firefighters across the County. With the recent award of the AFG grant, our fire and EMS responders are being set up for success over the next several years to serve the residents of Washington County.”
This regional grant brings direct capital purchase dollars to 19 volunteer fire and EMS departments, Hagerstown Fire Department, Washington County Division of Emergency Services, and Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. This grant has a 10 percent match requirement, which is part of the Washington County budget.
“The portable radios used by our fire and EMS responders have exceeded their manufacturers stated service life, and parts for repair are becoming more difficult to find. The new radios will be designed to withstand the rigors of structural firefighting. The radios will also provide improved technologies, such as dual-band frequencies, GPS, Over Air Programming (OTAP) capabilities, WiFi, and expanded frequency encryption capability,” said Washington County Division of Emergency Services Director, R. David Hays.
