State funding of $8,000 will be going to St. Lawrence County for firefighters’ purchase protective gear.

State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, whose district includes the towns of Massena, Brasher, Norfolk, Stockholm, Potsdam, Pierrepont, Russell, Clifton, Fine, and Pitcairn in St. Lawrence County, has announced that his office secured the money to assist fire departments throughout his district with the purchase of Nomex hoods, which are worn under firefighters’ helmets and provide a heat resistant barrier that protects the wearer’s face and neck.

St. Lawrence County Director of Emergency Services Michael LeCuyer said that, as the funding becomes available, his office would be purchasing a quantity of Nomex hoods to distribute equitably to the departments in the county that are within Sen. Griffo’s district.

“A firefighter’s personal protective equipment is vital in protecting first responders not only from hazards that are seen such as fire, but also the unseen chemicals that they are exposed to while performing the tasks encountered on a daily basis,” LeCuyer said. “Sen. Griffo’s awareness of this need, and his efforts to battle the incidence of cancer exposures, prompted him to pursue a grant opportunity through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to provide fire departments in his district with additional personal protective equipment. Those departments will benefit with the addition of Nomex hoods to bolster their personal protective equipment inventories,” he said.

“Every day, firefighters throughout my district drop everything at a moment’s notice and respond to fire calls in their communities without a second thought,” Sen. Griffo said. “While these brave firefighters are busy protecting us and our loved ones, we must make sure that they also are safe from harm. I was honored to secure funding that will be used to help fire departments in my district obtain equipment that will help them to stay safe while they are out fighting fires. This equipment will help us to make sure that our courageous firefighters get the protection they deserve.”