FISHKILL, NY (October 3, 2007): Lawley Richwood and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company awarded a $5,000 grant to the Fishkill Fire Department. Grant funds, which will support the department’s Firefighter Assist and Search Team (FAST), are earmarked for a mobile air cart designed to provide air flow for air-line supplied respirators and self-contained breathing apparatuses.

Air carts provide support during rescue operations in confined spaces and toxic environments, as well as for structural collapses and hazmat incidents. In addition, the device can operate pneumatic rescue tools such as air struts, air bags, pneumatic saws and hammers.

The mission of the Fishkill Fire Department’s FAST team is to provide assistance to the department’s firefighters during all emergency operations—they are the firefighter’s last line of defense from injury or death. Operations can include structural fires, structural collapses, trench collapses and explosions.

“In 1997, a small group of our firefighters were chosen to form a team to learn the techniques of firefighter rescue,” points out Dean Scofield, Fire Chief of Fishkill Fire Department. These individuals stepped up and helped form what is now one of the most relied upon FAST teams in Dutchess County. I want to thank Lawley Richwood and Fireman’s Fund for recognizing an essential need of our department and FAST team.”

Chief Scofield, Fishkill volunteer firefighters, local officials, and executives from Lawley Richwood and Fireman’s Fund came together on October 3d for a special public event where the grant package was presented.

“Fire departments, unfortunately, often lack some critical equipment needed for their firefighters to do their jobs safely and efficiently,” points out Matt Vetare, senior account executive for Lawley Richwood. “At Lawley, we recognize these critical needs, and, through the Fireman’s Fund Heritage program, have provided grant funds in excess of $60,000 to fire departments in the state of New York. We’ll continue to support these men and women who risk their lives to protect the residents of their communities.”

The grant was funded by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, a premier property and casualty insurance company which provides grants to fire departments through its Fireman’s Fund HeritageSM program. Through this program, local agencies, like Lawley Richwood, that sell Fireman’s Fund products are able to direct grants to support local fire departments and the communities they serve. Since the program’s inception in 2004, Fireman’s Fund has donated over $14 million to fire departments and fire service agencies across the country. Additional information about the program can be found at www.firemansfund.com/heritage.