Rehoboth Fire Company receives federal grants

Delaware U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, along with Representative Lisa Blunt-Rochester announced almost $200,000 in grants awarded to the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company.

The grants come just over a week after the state cut into Grant-in-Aid funding, slashing 20 percent from funding for Fiscal Year 2017.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant will go toward the purchase of portable and mobile radio equipment as well as washers and dryers for the fire company's gear.

The equipment upgrades will help the company keep up with new state regulations, as well as a more clean and efficient work place.

Warren Jones, with the department and a volunteer firefighter in Delaware for over 50 years, says this is much needed following cuts to grant in aid.

"It takes care of our capital expenses that if we didn't get the money we would have to take it out of the operational side of our business since we just lost over $27,000 in the operational side of our business because of Grant-in-Aid cuts."

Jones went on to say the fire company has 4-million dollars in capital expenses on the horizon over the next 20 years, including new breathing apprentices, along with new radio systems.  Delaware will be changing its radio system over in 2023.