Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company has been awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant worth nearly $200,000 to help support its safety and operations.

The awarding of the grant was announced July 12 through a joint press release from U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.

According to the press release, the grant will go toward the purchase of portable and mobile radio equipment as well as washers and dryers for the fire company’s gear. This equipment will help the fire company communicate across all scenarios, keep up with new state regulations, and have a more clean and efficient working space.

The state’s federal representatives were pleased to make the announcement.

“When an emergency occurs, firefighters are often the first to respond and arrive at the scene. They remain vigilant at all hours of the day in order to respond promptly to an emergency situation in our communities,” said Carper, co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, in a prepared statement.

Coons said our nation relies on local firefighters.

“Every day the brave men and women in our fire departments put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe and the least we can do to thank them for their work is to provide them with the resources and training they need to properly carry out their dangerous missions,” said Coons.

Blunt Rochester said time and again, firefighters show remarkable bravery.

“In return for their sacrifice, it is our responsibility to ensure they have the equipment necessary to do their job effectively and safely.”

The AFG program is funded by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, and it attempts to further the training, expand the resources, and enhance the response capabilities of firefighters and unaffiliated EMS organizations. The funding provided from this grant is primarily directed to the health and safety of the public and the firefighters and other responders with respect to fire and other hazards.