Newsday – Long Island Now

Port Washington Fire Dept. gets $300G grant

Monday December 26, 2011 9:15 AM By Emily C. Dooley

The Federal Emergency Management Administration has approved a $324,968 grant to the Port Washington Fire Department. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant will help the department buy new protective gear, such as gloves, boots and helmets. “This will enable us to upgrade our gear at minimal expense to our residents,” Fire Chief Geoffrey Cole said in a news release. The Port Washington Fire Protection District encompasses 11 square miles and includes the villages of Baxter Estates, Manorhaven, Port Washington North and Sands Point, portions of the villages of Plandome Manor and Flower Hill and some unincorporated areas in the Town of North Hempstead, according to the district’s website.

Established by the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, the grant is part of an effort to increase preparations for emergency response. The program funds purchases of personal protective equipment, firefighting vehicles and emergency response equipment, as well as training programs.