Thompson Announces Assistance to Firefighters Program Grant to Support Santa Rosa Fire Department

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) today announced an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) of $521,364 in federal funding to the City of Santa Rosa Fire Department (SRFD), which will be used to purchase 112 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs). The new units will replace the entire current fleet of worn and aging SCBAs. This grant was made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.

"These funds will help the Santa Rosa Fire Department replace critical equipment used by firefighters on a daily basis. This will protect firefighters in dangerous environments and benefit our entire community," said Thompson. "I am a proud supporter of the FEMA AFG Program and will continue working to make sure our cities and towns have the resources they need to keep our communities safe."

"This grant will provide SRFD with a measure of much needed financial relief," said Scott Westrope, SRFD Battalion Chief – Training and Safety. "Purchasing new SCBA units without the help of this grant would force us to reallocate funding for basic department needs and day-to-day operations. This grant will allow us to continue to provide our current level of service to the community and hopefully, with help from an improving economy, will allow us to maintain our financial status in the continuous effort to replace equipment as it wears out and becomes obsolete."

The FEMA AFG Program provides grants to first-responder organizations to obtain equipment, vehicles, and training. Additional information about the AFG Program can be found on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program.

###