Lakes of the Four Seasons, Lake Ridge Receive Fire Assistance Grants

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky announced today that the Lakes of the Four Seasons Volunteer Fire Force and the Lake Ridge Volunteer Fire Department will receive Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for fire and rescue services.

The Lakes of the Four Seasons department, which serves part of Winfield Township in Lake County and part of Porter Township in Porter County, will receive $71,550.  The Lake Ridge department, serving unincorporated Calumet Township, will receive $36,085.  The two grants total $107,635.

Both departments will have to furnish matching grants representing 10 percent of the total funding.  Lakes of the Four Seasons’ share is $7,950, and Lake Ridge’s share is $4,009.

With this announcement, five Northwest Indiana communities have received FEMA grants in the last two months.  Portage received $301,500; East Chicago received $78,649; and Hammond received $14,035.  In all, Northwest Indiana fire departments have received a total of $501,819 from this program since August 9, 2002.

According to FEMA, grants are awarded for the purposes of improving fire service delivery and enhancing safety for firefighters.

“Northwest Indiana’s firefighters risk their lives to protect their communities,” Visclosky said.  “We should always do everything we can to improve their safety and enhance their ability to protect their fellow citizens.  I am very glad that this funding will help do both things.”

Lakes of the Four Seasons and Lake Ridge were among 655 fire departments nationally receiving more than $34 million from this program today.  In all, only 14 Indiana departments received the award announced today.  FEMA expects to award 5,500 grants nationally by the end of Fiscal Year 2003.