Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) announced $91,886 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 City of Asheville Fire Department in Buncombe County, and comes in the fifth round of this year’s Fire Prevention & Safety Program (FP&S) awards which support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The primary goal is to target high-risk populations and mitigate high incidences of death and injury. Examples of the types of projects supported by FP&S include fire prevention and public safety education campaigns, media campaigns, and arson prevention and awareness programs. Local departments applied for the grants from the program which is administered by the Grant Programs Directorate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.  

Asheville Deputy Fire Chief Chris Budzinski explained that the grant will fund several items including a smoke/carbon monoxide alarm campaign called “Get Alarmed Asheville!,” stovetop fire extinguishers, address numbering kits, smoke alarm installation tool kits, and printed materials, all to enhance household safety for Asheville residences.  

The grant will also have an educational component, funding the purchase of a portable children’s fire education house and a digital fire extinguisher training system with smoke generator.

“The Asheville Fire Department serves the largest city in the Tenth District and one of the south’s best tourist destinations,” said Congressman McHenry. “The leadership of AFD has put together an innovative grant that will help to inform citizens of all ages about fire safety with the end goal of saving lives and protecting the treasures of this beautiful area of North Carolina.” 

Asheville is the first Tenth District fire department to receive FP&S funding in the FY 2015 cycle.