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Wilson Announces Over $150,000 in Funding for Hardeeville Fire/Rescue Department

July 7, 2004
Today, Congressman Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) announced that the Hardeeville Fire Department will receive $151,200 in funding under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security."This funding is so important to the community of Hardeeville, and I am so pleased to congratulate the Hardeeville Fire/Rescue Department and particularly Chief John Ekaitis and his staff on their dedication to public safety," said Congressman Wilson. "Fire departments are first responders to community emergencies, and this level of financial assistance is invaluable to increasing the safety of the people of Hardeeville."The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) awards one-year grants directly to fire departments to support the nation's firefighters and the services they deliver. For the 2004 program, Congress appropriated, and President Bush signed into law, $750 million in direct assistance to firefighters to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, and to establish or expand fire prevention programs throughout the United States. The Department of Homeland Security's Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) administers the program, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration."For the city of Hardeeville and its citizens, as well as the areas surrounding the city, the announcement that Hardeeville Fire/Rescue will receive this grant is unquestionably a wonderful thing," said Hardeeville Fire/Rescue Chief John Ekaitis. "This will help us as a fire department to respond to various fires and emergencies in and around the city, and will have the additional impact of helping us further lower our fire insurance ratings for area businesses and residents. The impact Congressman Wilson's efforts on our behalf will have on the city and surroundings areas is simply incalculable. The department plans to make this pumper/tanker available to respond throughout the county, via our mutual aid agreements with other departments, to help in emergencies throughout the county. We are in this together, and Congressman Wilson has been right there with us." "This grant will help the city grow in other ways, as well," said Rob Dewig, Hardeeville Fire/Rescue Public Information Officer and Hardeeville Community Development Director. "One of the main concerns new developers, businesses and residents ask for when they move into, or annex into, the city limits is top-notch fire protection. With this grant, we have that. As a result, Hardeeville will continue to grow in a positive - and ultimately safer - way." "This grant puts us one more step ahead of the inevitable growth coming to our part of the Lowcountry," said Hardeeville Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief of Operations Dan Morgan. "What will the tanker help with specifically? Everything. It's going to help us with vehicle fires, house fires, accidents on Interstate 95, particularly in areas where there is no ready water supply, such as on the interstate and in the rural areas. We certainly appreciate Congressman Wilson's support in helping rural fire departments like ours continue to improve and grow."###