Newsday – Long Island Now

Bellmore Fire Department gets national grant for recruitment

Sunday September 22, 2013 11:08 AM By Aisha Al-Muslim

The Bellmore Fire Department has received $137,665 in funding through the national Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to help with recruitment and retention. Kevin Mulrooney, vice president of JSK Inc. — a company specializing in writing fire grants that was hired by Bellmore — said the fire department will use the money to defray the upfront costs of conducting a community marketing program. If the fire department were to conduct a marketing program, it would be on the hook for Occupational Safety and Health Administration physicals at $300 each, $300 in required training books and exams, and $3,000 in fitted turnout gear such as helmets, boots and gloves.

The program will also fund a personal accident insurance in the event the recruit is injured. “Bellmore FD was denied this application in February 2013. Now, not only did FEMA give it to them, but they increased it by $10,000,” Mulrooney said in an email, adding that the department has unsuccessfully applied for about 10 fire act grants since 2009.