New Mexico Invests $685,000 For Albuquerque Firefighters
Recovery Act Award and City Funds Will Buy New Safety Equipment.
Governor Bill Richardson today announced he is committing $685,000 in Recovery Act funds to help replace critical fire safety equipment for Albuquerque firefighters.
Governor Richardson was joined at today’s announcement by Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry who highlighted the city is investing an additional $150,000 in the equipment.
“The men and women of the Albuquerque Fire Department are willing to risk their lives for public safety, and it is absolutely essential that we provide them with safe and reliable equipment,” Governor Richardson said. “I am pleased that the Recovery Act has given us the resources to solve this ongoing concern. It’s important to stay true to our top priorities as state and city budgets face ongoing pressures from the recession.”
“Firefighters are true heroes and we want to do all we can to get them home safe at the end of their shift,” Mayor Berry said. “This equipment will help us do that.”
The combined $835,000 will purchase 167 new air packs that will allow Albuquerque’s first responders to enter burning buildings and other hazardous situations with a safe air supply.
The department’s current air packs, also known as a self-contained breathing apparatus, are several years old and need replacement.
“The Recovery Act continues to bring direct results to our communities by funding vital services like fire departments, and represents a long-term, strategic investment in our nation’s economic vitality,” said U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich. “This funding comes at time when local communities are increasingly hard pressed to allocate resources for fire departments. First responders in Albuquerque deserve the proper equipment to do their jobs and keep families safe in the case of a fire.”
Harold Schaitberger, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, traveled to Albuquerque to join Governor Richardson for today’s announcement.
“This is a big win for fire fighters and the people of Albuquerque, because it means a stronger and safer fire fighting team,” Schaitberger said. “Our members have been advocating long and hard on this issue, and I thank Governor Richardson for his commitment to public safety.”
Governor Richardson allocated the stimulus money from his discretionary stimulus funding.
Topics: 2010, Albuquerque, Albuquerque Fire Department, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ARRA, firefighters, first responders, Governance, government, Governor Bill Richardson, International Association of Fire Fighters, investment, moniter, monitor, New Mexico, news, public safety, safety equipment, society, stimulus money, U.S., United States
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