BLUMENTHAL, MURPHY, LARSON AND DELAURO ANNOUNCE FIRE SAFETY GRANTS FOR SEYMOUR, MIDDLETOWN AND EAST HARTFORD

(Hartford,CT) -- U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Senator Chris Murphy(D-Conn.), Congressman John Larson (D-1) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-3)announced today the awards of three federal fire Operations and Safety (OP &S) Grants through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant programsadministered by FEMA. These grants will help improve the safety and operationsof firefighters and first responders in Seymour, Middletown and East Hartford.

The SeymourAmbulance Association will receive $61,085 to upgrade radios used tocommunicate between emergency response vehicles and dispatchers. Radioscurrently in use are out of date and not up to code with state and FCCrequirements.

"We were very pleased to receive thegrant funds. It will facilitate communication between EMTs and hospitalsand improve service for our residents. I would like to thank thedelegation and all those who helped secure this grant," saidSeymour First Selectman Kurt Miller.

TheWestfield Fire District in Middletown will receive $12,341 to purchase twothermal imaging cameras. The new equipment will replace old and outdatedequipment currently in use. The cameras will allow firefighters to see insideburning buildings, around walls and through other infrastructure. The camerascan be used to detect heat sources, fires, and occupants in a burning building,and can be used to determine the temperature of a room and whether it is safeto enter. This is the second federal firefighting award for Middletown inFiscal Year 2013. Earlier this year Middletown received $1.14 million throughthe SAFER Grant program to hire eight additional firefighters.

"These thermal imaging cameras willassist our brave Westfield firefighters in keeping the people of their districtsafe without any impact to local taxpayers. It takes tremendous courage tofight fire, and it's important that our firefighters have the tools they needto do the job," said Middletown Mayor Dan Drew.

The EastHartford Fire Department will receive $139,200 for radio upgrades tocommunicate between emergency vehicles and dispatch. As with Seymour, theradios currently in use are not up to code with state and FCC requirements. Thegrant will also enable East Hartford to purchase new repeaters that willimprove the town's ability to communicate over multi-frequency andmulti-channel receivers with other departments.

"We are grateful for the support fromFEMA and the delegation. This funding will allow the East Hartford FireDepartment to dramatically improve its communication system. When completed,the project will significantly improve firefighter safety by improving ourradio communications system. The town's fire department is a critical serviceused every day by our citizens and visitors. This funding will enable our firefightersto better serve the community by enhancing our radio communications system. Anadditional aspect of the project improves our ability to communicate with ourneighboring communities. This becomes vital during large scale emergencies aswell as during natural disasters and other extreme events,"said East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc.

"These are well-deserved awards to helpprotect our brave first responders in Seymour, Middletown and East Hartford.Our firefighters and first responders risk their lives every day to protectours, and they deserve the best equipment available," saidSenator Blumenthal.

"These grants will provide lifesavingsupport to help firefighters do their jobs safely and effectively in EastHartford, Middletown, and Seymour. I'll continue to fight for these heroes whoput their lives on the line to protect our communities day in and day out."Murphy said.

"Firefighters deserve the right toolswhen protecting our families and communities from fire related hazards,"said Congressman Larson. "Iam very pleased to see funding go to the East Hartford Fire Department forcommunications equipment upgrades. These needed improvements will help ensurethe safety of our neighbors and our brave first responders while also improvingtheir ability to coordinate with nearby departments. I am also pleased to seethe Westfield Fire District receive funding for the addition of thermal imagingcameras, crucial for assessing danger and locating trapped or injuredindividuals. Each of these competitive grants will help strengthen departmentoperations in the first district and above all help keep our towns and firstresponders safe."

"Ensuring first responders have updatedand necessary equipment is crucial to protecting not only the public, but the bravemen and women who serve our communities," Congresswoman DeLaurosaid. "The equipmentpurchased with these grants will better prepare the first responders ofMiddletown, Seymour, and East Hartford for the dangerous and lifesaving workthey so ably do."

These arethe ninth, tenth and eleventh federal firefighting grants awarded inConnecticut in Fiscal Year 2013. Middletown received $1.14 million to hireeight additional firefighters and Waterbury received $2.9 million to hire newfire recruits through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response(SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighters grant programs administered by FEMA.Shelton, Norwalk, Torrington, Southington and Waterbury also received grants tosupport operations and safety measures.