REP. MIKE THOMPSON ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $2.4 MILLION GRANT FOR RODEO-HERCULES FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced a $2,475,991 federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District (RHFD). The grant was awarded through The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The funds are part of an AFG program called Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER). Funds under the SAFER program are intended to support the hiring of firefighters and the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.

"These funds will help make sure the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District has the resources and personnel it needs to respond to emergencies," said Thompson. "SAFER grants support jobs and help make our communities safer places to live, work and raise a family.I am a proud supporter of the SAFER program, and I thank our firefighters and first responders for their service"

"Many thanks to Representative Thompson and his staff for their invaluable assistance," said Chief Charles Hanley. "On behalf of the Rodeo Hercules Fire District we are very pleased to be awarded a SAFER grant. The funding will be used to restore vital services in the Town of Rodeo and the City of Hercules. The return of local tax dollars will create employment opportunities and keep the help us in our mission to keep the community safe."

The RHFD currently serves an area of 25 square miles, including the City of Hercules and the unincorporated area of Rodeo. This program asks for a relatively small amount of money to recruit, retain, and reward its dedicated volunteers for service to their communities and to reimburse them for classes they take to increase quality of service. The absence of such volunteers would be catastrophic, especially in the event of a large-scale disaster or wildfire.

The goal of the SAFER grant is to enhance the ability of fire departments such as the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing and to assure that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. The objective of the program is to award grants directly to volunteer, combination, and career fire departments to help the departments increase the number of frontline firefighters, and to rehire firefighters who were laid-off due to the economy.

In Fiscal Year 2013, the DHS will award approximately $320 million directly to fire departments and volunteer support groups to expand the number of firefighters available to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and all other hazards.

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.

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