Grant to Clifton Fire Department
will allow for greater community service

Assemblymember Susan John (D-Rochester/Chili/Riga/Rush/Wheatland) announced a $50,000 grant to the Clifton Fire Department for capital improvements and acquisition of new equipment.

"The service that our community receives from our local volunteer fire, rescue, and medical emergency personnel deserve as much community support as we can give them," said Susan John. "When Chief Koster and George Emens contacted me regarding the need for new rescue equipment, I knew that I would have to go to bat for them and get the funding."

The Clifton Fire Department serves the towns of Chili and Riga. In that fire protection area is the 1,500 plus acres of Black Creek Park, many farm fields, woodlands and three golf courses. The grant will help secure an all terrain utility vehicle that will have remote off road capabilities. With the purchase of this vehicle, the firefighter will have a quicker response time to emergencies in remote areas. In addition, it will be part of the county's mutual aid system.

"Currently, our volunteers are only able to access some areas by carrying equipment on their backs," said Chief Brian Koster. "In an environment of limited manpower, our continuing goal is to successfully complete each call for help, as efficiently and safely as possible. This new equipment will ensure that we are able to continue to serve the community with the high quality response they have come to expect."

"This grant will benefit the volunteers, department, community and the citizens we have taken an oath to serve and protect," said George Emens, President of the Clifton Fire Department. "I know every member of the Clifton Fire Department appreciates Assemblymember John's hard work, commitment and dedication to the department's mission and to our community service."

The grant secured by Assemblymember John will also allow the department to apply a non-skid floor covering to their apparatus room, making it safer for the volunteers, and replace the building's emergency generator.

May 21, 2006