U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand today announced over $2.6 million in federal funding for firefighters across Upstate New York, including $44,661 to the city of Dunkirk.

The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The senators said the funding will be used to purchase essential equipment, boost training and provide firefighters the support they need to keep New Yorkers and themselves safe.

“From the peak of the pandemic to battling a blaze, our brave Upstate New York firefighters are always on the front lines, risking their lives to protect their communities. It is essential that we provide our firefighters with the resources they need to keep our communities safe,” Schumer said. “That is why I am proud to deliver this over $2.6 million federal boost, from a program I helped create, for our courageous upstate heroes to give them the equipment and training they need to stay safe and be prepared to take on any emergency.”

“New York’s brave firefighters put their lives at risk to keep us safe,” Gillibrand said. “We owe it to them to ensure that they have the top-of-the-line safety equipment and comprehensive training they need to respond to emergencies. I’m proud to be delivering nearly $2 million in federal funding for our first responders and I’ll keep fighting to ensure that fire departments from Dunkirk to Potsdam to Arlington have the support and resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”