Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $40,000 to Supply PPE for Owings Mills Volunteer Firefighters

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) announced $40,087.55 in new federal funding for the Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Company in Owings Mills, Maryland through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant – COVID-19 Supplemental Program (AFG-S) program. The funding will be used to purchase new personal protective equipment (PPE) and related supplies for the Company’s volunteer firefighters as they continue to protect and serve the Owings Mills community amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Maryland’s firefighters risk life and limb for our local communities. This funding means Owings Mills firefighters can buy equipment to better protect themselves while serving the public,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I will keep fighting to ensure that Maryland’s first responders have the resources they need to improve their own safety as they protect our communities.”

“Every day our firefighters make enormous sacrifices when responding to emergencies, and the risks have greatly increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Cardin. “This supplemental PPE will help ensure our frontline workers are safe and have all the resources necessary for safely providing critical first-response services during the pandemic.”

“Maryland’s first responders and firefighters are serving on the frontlines of our state’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “This new federal funding will help ensure that our firefighters have the equipment and resources they need – including PPE and other critical supplies – to stay safe and healthy while they continue protecting our communities during this crisis.”

The lawmakers secured $355 million for the AFG program for Fiscal Year 2020.  The AFG program strengthens the capability of fire departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services organizations and state fire training academies to protect the health and safety of the public and first responder personnel.  The lawmakers secured $100 million for the Fiscal Year 2020 COVID-19 Supplemental (AFG-S) program, in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act) and continue to support robust funding for the program – including by urging FEMA Administrator Gaynor to increase federal support for firefighters as the COVID-19 crisis devastates state and local budgets.