Fire Protection Equipment Funding Supports
Baie Verte-Springdale Volunteers

Six fire departments will benefit from $70,498 in Provincial Government funding to help purchase new fire fighting equipment. The Honourable Kevin O�Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services, today announced the funding to be shared among fire departments in Burlington, Nipper�s Harbour, King�s Point, La Scie, Pacquet, and Springdale.

�Our government is helping to provide the fire service with the tools needed to safeguard residents in the event of an emergency,� said Minister O�Brien. �This equipment will be a positive addition to the fire service and will help municipalities not only with their responsibility of providing fire protection for residents, but also in protecting the dedicated volunteers in the communities they serve.�

The funding, which will be used to purchase equipment such as boots, helmets, gloves, bunker suits and self-contained breathing apparatus, is administered by Fire and Emergency Services � Newfoundland and Labrador.

�I am very pleased that these communities are proactive in acquiring the necessary funding to ensure their firefighters have this essential, personal equipment,� said Kevin Pollard, MHA for Baie Verte-Springdale. �Government recognizes the outstanding commitment that volunteer firefighters make to our communities, and this funding will help to protect those who protect us.�

Budget 2010: The Right Investments � For Our Children and Our Future doubled the investment in fire fighting equipment from $500,000 to $1 million, while also increasing expenditures on fire fighting vehicles to a total of $2.5 million. Funding for these six fire departments will be shared between the Provincial Government and the respective communities under the 90/10 cost shared ratio established through the Municipal Capital Works Program, for a total project cost of nearly $82,000.

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2010 12 02                                                   10:30 a.m.