The Harmony Fire Department has received more than $500,000 in federal grant funding to help cover equipment purchases, training and other expenses necessary to operate a volunteer fire department.
Of that amount, $467,950 came from a FEMA “Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response,” or SAFER, grant. The money will be used to create a benefits program and to strengthen marketing, recruiting and training programs.
“We have been working towards obtaining a grant like this for several years and are very excited to have this opportunity in front of us,” the Harmony Fire Department said in a statement on its Facebook page on Friday, Aug. 23, announcing the successful acquisition.
Another $41,162 will come from FEMA's Firefighter Assistance Grant Program and will be used to replace equipment such as hoselines and nozzles.
“Obtaining these funds is not easy, but they are important to us to continue to offset the costs of operating today,” the district wrote.
