DANBURY – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, and U.S. Representative Elizabeth Esty announced that the Danbury Fire Department received an Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) in the amount of $336,728 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This AFG grant will allow the Danbury Fire Department to obtain portable radios.

“We are excited to announce today’s FEMA grant to the Danbury Fire Department,” said Murphy, Blumenthal, and Esty. “Our firefighters work diligently to keep our communities safe, constantly putting their lives on the line. These funds will go a long way to help improve communications, which will ensure that these brave men and women of the Danbury Fire Department can continue to do their jobs effectively and safely.”

“This is just phenomenal, and we are very fortunate to be receiving this AFG grant for portable radios. The funding is much needed to improve our communications infrastructure. We’ve been working on making improvements, and this federal money will help tremendously,” said Danbury Fire Chief TJ Wiedl.

Since 2001, the Assistance to Firefighter Grant has helped firefighters and other first responders to 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.