$5G grant helps Plandome firefighters

The Plandome Fire Department has received a $5,142 donation to purchase needed radio and other equipment, the department chief said Tuesday .

The donation was made by D.J. Colby Co. Inc., a wholesale insurance agency based in Manhattan, and the national Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co., the insurance agency said.

Plandome Fire Chief Roger Goodwin said the department has purchased two portable radios, seven helmets, a set of protective clothing gear and equipment for the chief’s car with the money.

Goodwin said the department, which relies heavily on single-family homes for its tax base, was under pressure to keep its budget down. “This grant helped us get equipment that we may have had to delay the purchase of for a year or two,” he said.

A news conference announcing the donation is scheduled for Thursday .

From 2004 through June, the Fireman’s Fund gave $28.3 million in grants to nearly 1,800 organizations, according to its website.