Fire districts receive $400G in grants

The Manhasset-Lakeville and New Hyde Park fire districts received a combined total of more than $400,000 this week in federal grants that promote effective firefighting operations.

The grants, announced by Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, all Democrats, are funded by the Assistance to Firefighter Grant program and are administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The grants are designed to assist firefighters and other first responders obtain important equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fires and fire-related hazards.

The Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department will use its grant of $249,920 to improve driver training with the purchase of a driver-training simulator, which can train firefighters for all weather conditions without putting any equipment on the road, enhancing the safety of civilians and firefighters.

The equipment will be used by about 750 firefighters covering 50 square miles and protecting 151,000 people, according to Tom Devaney of JSK Public Safety Consultants, which represents the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire District.

New Hyde Park will use its $164,295 grant to purchase a new rescue truck that complies with state and federal standards.

“We are replacing a 26-year-old rescue truck with a safe, modern vehicle,” said John Divello, commissioner of the New Hyde Park Fire District.

Above: New Hyde Park Fire Department