U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the Plymouth Volunteer Fire Department will receive $40,850 in federal funding to purchase new protective gear.

The funding comes from the FY12 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. AFG awards are administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and are designed to help firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

The Plymouth Volunteer Fire Department will use the federal funds to purchase a new Hurst Tool, better known as "jaws of life," and will enable the department to provide a quicker response in removing injured and trapped people from vehicles. This will replace a 20-year-old tool they currently use.

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