WASHINGTON, D.C. – New federal resources have been awarded to a fire department in Clermont County. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the Central Joint Fire- EMS District and Wayne Township Fire and Rescue departments have been awarded resources by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program.

“Our first responders put their lives on the line every day across Ohio,” said Brown. “These funds ensure that firefighters in Clermont County have the resources they need to perform their jobs safely.”

This is round five of the competitive Fiscal Year 2011 AFG announcements. Central Joint Fire - EMS District in Batavia was awarded $ 207,000 and Wayne Township Fire and Rescue in Newtonsville was awarded $360,000 for a new vehicle and operations and safety, respectively.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program is an integral component in the Department of Homeland Security’s effort to strengthen the nation’s general level of preparedness and capacity to respond to fire and related dangers, according to FEMA. AFG awards grants to departments and EMS organizations that are not directly affiliated with a hospital in an effort to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public.

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