Congressman Visclosky Announces Regional Grant Award to Portage Fire Department

portage-fire-carbon-monoxide-2015Congressman Pete Visclosky announced that the Portage Fire Department received $785,882 through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

The federal funding will allow six regional fire departments to enhance their services by purchasing updated self-contained breathing apparatus equipment. These departments include Portage, Ogden Dunes, Chesterton, South Haven, Burns Harbor, and Porter.

Upon receiving the grant, Assistant Chief Tim Sosby stated, “We are very grateful to receive this grant. To know that we will also be able to help five other departments brings us great joy. Our breathing machines in all of the departments are around ten to twelve years old and we desperately needed an upgrade. This grant will allow us to replace 135 machines and enhance the safety of our firefighters. Last, we cannot express enough gratitude to Congressman Visclosky and his support for grant programs such as these.”

“Portage Fire Department was proud to lead in this effort. Portage believes in regionalism at every level. Residents know that in Portage the emergency medical care they receive is the finest, and this is another example of how we join with others to keep that care and safety the very best. We know we can count on the Congressman to receive the support we need in all of these endeavors,” said Mayor James Snyder

“I commend Chief Fieffer, Assistant Chief Sosby, the Portage Fire Department and all of the fire departments involved in securing this grant. I am proud to support grant programs that help ensure the safety of the dedicated men and women who keep Northwest Indiana safe,” said Congressman Visclosky.

For more information about the Portage Fire Department please visit: http://www.ci.portage.in.us/department/?fDD=5-0