Federal grant to boost Fredericksburg river rescue team
The Fredericksburg City Council approved a grant for $76,000 for the City Fire Department’s Water Rescue Team.
The grant was originally awarded to the fire department in October 2019 through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management which got funding from the Department of Homeland Security.
The goal seeks to expand and improve water rescue operations throughout Virginia. The Fire Department will use the grant to purchase equipment to bring its water rescue squad up to code with the rules set by the state Department of Emergency Management.
The equipment is expected to upgrade the water rescue squad to a National Incident Management System Type Three team. This level would certify the team to be deployed statewide to where water-related emergencies are occurring. Such emergencies would include situations such as hurricanes and localized flooding.