Oceanside fire department receives $360,000 federal grant

The Oceanside Fire Department is set to receive $360,000 to support its safety and training programs through the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Senator Charles Schumer made the announcement Jan. 27. Three other departments, including the Floral Park Fire Department, the Amityville Fire Department, and the Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance Corps will also receive smaller grants—$142,500, $71,060, and $28,500, respectively, according to the Senator's office—to help with their efforts.

Oceanside Fire Department spokesman Ed Scharfberg said the money will be used to create a live burn simulator at the department's field on Mott Street to help train firefighters. The department will also allow nearby fire departments to use the facility.

The grant money will help the department provide additional training for new volunteers. Due to the economic situation, the county's Fire Service Academy has had to cut some elective courses. According to Chief John Brown, with the FSA, the academy had to cut courses that provide extra training in situations involving flammable liquids, liquid petroleum gas, and removing victims from car accidents. Those programs, cut in 2007, 2008, and 2009, are set to be restored this year, according to Brown. All volunteer firefighters still received the 66 hours of training in essentials and primary firefighting, plus 16 hours of hazardous materials training at the academy.

Scharfberg said the federal grant money to individual fire departments is a welcome solution, and will help provide additional training for local firefighters. He said Oceanside's new training facility will hopefully be set up within the year, and eventually opened to nearby fire departments to use soon after.