Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz announced today that she secured more than $150,000 for the Abington Township Fire Department and Willow Grove Volunteer Fire Company to ensure that these volunteer firefighters have the tools and resources they need to keep the community, residents and themselves safe.

            The Pennsylvania congresswoman was joined today by David Schramm, Fire Services Administrator for the Abington Township Fire Department, which received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) totaling $79,600, and Fire Chief Lee Perlmutter from the Willow Grove Volunteer Fire Company, which received $78,094.

“These brave men and women volunteer their time to ensure the safety of our communities and it is important that we provide them with the necessary tools to do their jobs more effectively,” Schwartz said. “These funds will improve communication between firefighters and commanders to ensure incidents are responded to more efficiently. It is important that we properly train our volunteers, look out for the health of our firefighters and provide them with the most up-to-date equipment.”  

“This 2009 AFG award will significantly improve our communications capabilities, which will result in a safer and more effective fire fighting force that will benefit our community by providing the best fire protection services possible,” said David Schramm, Fire Services Administrator for the Abington Township Fire Department. “We sincerely appreciate Congresswoman Schwartz’s support in helping secure these funds for ATFD.”

            “Funding from FEMA will enable Willow Grove Volunteer Fire Company to provide an annual health screening for all of our firefighters,” said Lee Perlmutter, Fire Chief for the Willow Grove Volunteer Fire Company. “These screenings will improve the health and safety of our firefighters and help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, which claims too many firefighters every year.  We will also be able to replace obsolete rescue tools that wouldn’t have been possible without federal assistance.  We sincerely appreciate the Congresswoman’s support of our first responders and the community.”

The grant awarded to the Abington fire department will provide funding for a comprehensive communications and training project including 20 portable radios, five mobile data terminals (MDTs) and funding for certification training courses. The portable radios and MDTs will enable firefighters to effectively communicate with the incident commander, other first responders, and the Montgomery County Communications Center.  The training program will ensure that all existing and new firefighters will be trained to the National Fire Protection Association 1001 standard within 12 months of joining the department.

The Willow Grove grant provides funding for a health and wellness program, six portable radios, and new hydraulic rescue tools.  The health and wellness program will provide annual physical exams and immunizations for all firefighters.  Further, the portable radios will enable firefighters to communicate with the incident commander when responding to incidents in multiple townships across the border of Montgomery and Bucks Counties.  Lastly, the new hydraulic rescue tools will replace old, obsolete, and worn out equipment. 

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