By By BEN RAYMOND LODE / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- The Niles City Fire Department has received $49,223 under the federal Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program.
The announcement was made by U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., of St. Joseph. on Tuesday.
The grant, awarded by the Emergency and Response Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S Fire Administration, will be used to buy additional hazardous material response equipment for the fire department's HAZMAT unit.
Lamb said the HAZMAT team is especially important with the greater Niles area being home to several large industrial facilities that use or produce hazardous materials daily.
While Berrien County Sheriff's Department provides response from their headquarters in St. Joseph, that is many miles away and precious time can be lost in combating a hazardous material crisis, Lamb said.
He said the city fire department's goal is to bridge the gap by providing a well trained and equipped hazardous materials response force capable of mitigating smaller chemical incidents while the county team is en route to the scene.
The HAZMAT unit was developed by the city fire and police departments and Niles Township Fire Department.
The unit operates from a 24-foot trailer modified to fit the unit's needs.
The group raised $30,000 from the community to purchase the trailer and specialized equipment to establish the team.
The latest grant will supply the group with a specialized self-contained breathing apparatus, a large decontamination tent and communications equipment. "We're going to end up with some of the best equipment in the area," Lamb said.
He said in two years, the three departments have been able to build a program they can be really proud of. Lamb is grateful for the help the three departments have received from the local community in developing the HAZMAT unit.
While Berrien County Sheriff's Department provides response from their headquarters in St. Joseph, that is many miles away and precious time can be lost in combating a hazardous material crisis, Lamb said.
He said the city fire departments goal is to bridge the gap by providing a well trained and equipped hazardous materials response force capable of mitigating smaller chemical incidents while the county team is en route to the scene.