WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) announced $553,982.94 in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant to a local fire department in the Tenth Congressional District.

The grant will go to the Ore Bank Pumpkin Center Volunteer Fire Department in Lincoln County and comes in the second round of the FY 2022 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant awards. These grants allow local fire departments to increase their staffing and deployment capabilities so they can better respond to emergencies whenever they may occur.  Local departments apply for the grants from the program which is administered by the Grant Programs Directorate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

Ore Bank Pumpkin Center Fire Chief Steven Goggio explained that the SAFER Grant would fund three new career firefighter positions – one for each shift.  These will staff the department’s new station.

Congressman McHenry visited Ore Bank Pumpkin Center VFD earlier this month to recognize an Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) equipment grant the department received during the 2021 funding cycle.

“Ore Bank Pumpkin Center VFD is located in one of the fastest-growing areas of Lincoln County and providing expanded fire protection to keep up with that growth is essential,” said Congressman McHenry.  “This SAFER Grant helps provide manpower to keep up with that need.”

A panel of fire experts at DHS awards SAFER grants through a competitive review process.  Congressman McHenry hosts workshops for 10th District EMS and fire departments to help guide personnel through the process and give them an inside view of what the committee looks for.

Ore Bank Pumpkin Center VFD is the first Tenth District department to receive SAFER funding thus far in the FY 2022 grant cycle. Grants will continue to be announced in weekly rounds through the coming months.