Firefighters will get big boost with safety upgrades from burst of bipartisanship

Though there's plenty to argue about now in the U.S House and Senate, one thing at least can inspire bipartisanship: Firefighter safety.

U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Rep. Andy Harris, R-1st, have announced more than $2 million in federal funding for Maryland firefighters.

Federal boost for firefighters also supports recruitment, retention

The total of $2,134,583 for Cecil, Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, and Worcester Counties will "enhance firefighters’ emergency response capabilities and their ability to protect the health and safety of the public," a statement from the federal representatives said. It will also support the recruitment and retention of additional firefighters.

“Maryland’s firefighters and first responders work tirelessly to keep our neighborhoods safe, often putting their lives on the line to protect others. This federal funding will provide our local fire departments with additional tools to better protect firefighters as they work to protect our communities across the Eastern Shore,” said the lawmakers.

More on OC's latest fire truck Ocean City Fire Department rededicates fire truck for fallen firefighter: PHOTOS

BUSINESS NEWS: Snow Hill gets new eatery, T.J. Maxx comes to Rehoboth Beach | What's Going There

How will the money help fire departments around Shore?

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

• $399,371.42 to Berlin Fire Company, Inc. in Worcester County to purchase 42 sets of new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) to replace units that are outdated and no longer compliant with National Fire Protection Association standards;

• $206,533 to the Fairmount Volunteer Fire Company in Somerset County to purchase 16 sets of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus to replace units that are outdated and no longer compliant with NFPA standards and to replace its Air Cascade Refill station;

• $466,900.00 to the Community Fire Company of Perryville, Maryland, Inc. in Cecil County for the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. With the opening of Great Wolf Lodge, the Department has received an increase in calls for emergency response;

• $368,412.27 to the Water Witch Fire Company, Inc. in Cecil County to provide 86 sets of Personal Protective Equipment for six departments across Cecil County – Water Witch Fire Company in Port Deposit, Cecilton Fire Company, the Singerly Fire Company in Elkton, Hacks Point Fire Department in Earleville, the Volunteer Fire Co. of Chesapeake City, and the North East Fire Co.;

• $286,363.63 to the Water Witch Fire Company, Inc. in Cecil County to acquire 9 new cardiac monitors;

• $201,800 to the Oxford Fire Department in Talbot County to purchase 22 sets of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus to replace units that are outdated and no longer compliant with NFPA standards and to replace its Air Cascade Refill station and 2 Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) kits;

• • $136,631.81 to Cecil County to acquire 25 sets of Personal Protective Equipment and 4 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus units;

• • $68,571.42 to Hoopers Island Volunteer Fire Co. in Dorchester County to acquire 20 sets of Personal Protective Equipment;

Funding is from the Department of Homeland Security's FY2022 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response awards. The programs are administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

BAY HEALTH IMPROVES: Chesapeake Bay 'dead zones' show big decline: What it means for fish, crabs and economy

More on past major calls Worcester man dies in trailer explosion caused by accidental fire

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the state boasts 264 fire departments currently registered with the National Fire Department Registry and 244 fire departments filed National Fire Incident Reporting System data in 2021.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Burst of bipartisanship leads to boost for firefighters. Here's how.