PRESS RELEASE

LAGRANGE FIRE DISTRICT IS AWARDED OVER $3.5 MILLION SAFER GRANT

November 10, 2021

LAGRANGE, NY – The Lagrange Fire District is proud to announce it has been honored as a recipient of
a Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant awarded for Fiscal Year 2021 from
the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The district
was awarded an unprecedented sum of $3,561,143.40 (the largest in New York State) which will be used
to hire 8 firefighters and increase staffing markedly for improved service to its community.
“With the growth in the Town of LaGrange, both in commercial and residential, we have to be proactive
to keep our high standard of excellence in public safety,” LaGrange Fire Chief Timothy O’Connor stated.
“Furthermore, this award allows our department to comply with National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) standards and codes as well as focus on enhancing the safety of the public and our emergency
service personnel.”

The SAFER Grant was created to provide funding directly to fire departments to help increase the number
of trained “front line” firefighters and enhance their abilities to comply with staffing, response and
operational standards established by the NFPA. LaGrange was recognized as one of 300 departments
nationwide whose ranks were stretched thin from increased demand and dramatic loss of volunteers.
“It has been a challenge to provide adequate manpower and resources to this growing community, but we
have just gained the ability to keep pace with its needs,” Chief O’Connor said, adding that this grant
would not have been possible without the cooperative efforts of the LaGrange Board of Fire
Commissioners and the LaGrange Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3813. “Without their efforts, this
grant would not have been possible.”

Grant funding will be received over a three-year period, which will pay for the immediate addition of
eight firefighters. This enables us to add two additional personnel to Station 1 24/7, effectively doubling
the staff stationed there, and gives us the ability to improve the fire and EMS services to the growing
Eastern side of the town.

The Lagrange Fire District (LFD) provides fire and EMS services to over 17,000 citizens living
throughout the 44-square-mile district containing a wide range of housing options, industrial facilities,
large commercial complexes, and multiple special-hazard locations.

Contact: Chief Timothy O’Connor
914-475-4211 Cellular
845-452-4999 Landline