Fort Myers Fire Department Receives $251,000 Grant

From the City of Fort Myers:

October 4, 2019

FORT MYERS, FL (Oct. 4, 2019) – The City of Fort Myers Fire Department is receiving $251,000 to install vehicle exhaust collection units (source capture systems) in each fire station through the Federal Emergency Management Agency ‘s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) 2018 program. This is the second consecutive year FMFD has been awarded a grant through the AFG program; in 2017 the city received $348,526 to purchase new breathing apparatus for the entire department.

Including the most recent AFG award, FMFD has received more than $700,000 over the past 18 months for new equipment, EMS mobile data collection terminals, and the purchase of a fire/rescue boat, along with two new emergency generators for Station 3 and Station 4.

“Our department strives to provide the most up-to-date tools and equipment for our firefighters to safely and efficiently carry out their jobs,” said FMFD Chief John Caufield. “As our data reflects certain trends, grants help us adopt new technologies and mitigate risk.”

The Fiscal Year 2020 city budget, adopted on September 23, will add two new Fire Inspector positions and one EMS Training Officer position within the department.

This press release was produced by the City of Fort Myers. The views expressed here are the author’s own.