In Chenango County, the Coventry Emergency Squad received a $71,428.57 AFG grant. (Submitted photo)

NEW YORK STATE - U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $13,230,088.46 in federal funding for dozens of fire departments across Upstate New York.

The funding will be used to provide protective gear, training, and supplies to emergency personnel. This federal funding was administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs, which Schumer helped create, and the senators fought hard to preserve and fund.

“Every day, our first responders risk everything to keep families safe and protect communities across Upstate New York. This more than $13.2 million in federal investments will put critical resources directly into the hands of firefighters—from New Rochelle to Syracuse to Buffalo—helping them stay safe and giving them what they need to do their jobs when it matters most,” said Senator Schumer. “For decades, I have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with firefighters from across Upstate New York to fight for this critical program, and I’m proud to see that work continue to deliver real resources for the brave first responders who always answer the call for help.”

“Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” said Senator Gillibrand. “We owe it to them to ensure that they have the resources and personnel they need to respond to emergencies as quickly as possible. I’m proud to be delivering over $13 million in federal funding to battle ongoing training and equipment gaps in fire departments across New York, and I will keep fighting to get more federal resources to our first responders.”

“The North Tonawanda Fire Department is extremely grateful to Senator Schumer for his continued support of our department and assistance throughout the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant process. The $488,020.48 award will allow us to send eight of our firefighters, approximately 21% of our career staff, to an accredited Paramedic Certification Program and become New York State-certified paramedics. With EMS incidents accounting for approximately 82% of our nearly 4,000 annual calls for service, increasing the number of paramedics within our department will expand Advanced Life Support and enhance patient safety. Senator Schumer’s continued commitment to the North Tonawanda Fire Department and to firefighters and first responders across New York State is deeply appreciated,” said City of North Tonawanda Fire Chief Doug Orlowski.

“I am extremely grateful to Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand for their support of the Syracuse Fire Department’s AFG application. Traffic collisions are one of the more significant occupational risks of injury or death for firefighters nationwide. This funding of $857,024 will allow us to give our nearly 400 members extensive classroom driver training and hands-on practice with our apparatus. Better prepared drivers mean safer responses for our firefighters, the people we serve, and everyone who shares the road with us,” said City of Syracuse Fire Chief Michael J. Monds.

“We are an all-volunteer department of 30 active firefighters serving about 9,300 residents across 39 square miles in Wayne County, and this funding will be critical to replace and upgrade our aging self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units to ensure our firefighters have dependable breathable air when responding to emergencies. We appreciate the Senators’ support to help secure this funding to help safeguard our firefighters and local residents,” said South Macedon Fire and Rescue 1st Asst. Chief Christopher Creamer.

Schumer helped create these programs and has championed program reauthorization and increased funding levels. In 2024, Senator Schumer led to passage the bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act, extending funding for the AFG and SAFER programs through Fiscal Year 2030.

Schumer explained that the AFG and SAFER programs have been a lifeline for fire departments and have become essential to their continued operations because they often face budget shortfalls and high costs, hindering their ability to purchase the modern equipment they need to respond to emergencies and keep firefighters safe.

These programs have delivered hundreds of millions of dollars for firefighters and first responders across New York. The AFG and SAFER grant programs are administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, providing funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to applicants that most closely address the program’s priorities and demonstrate financial need. 

- Information from the the Office of Senator Chuck Schumer