Westchester will be getting a new firetruck and essential equipment compliments of the Department of Homeland Security.

The Fire Department has received two federal grants totaling $414,464 for the purchase of a new fire engine and self-contained air packs for firefighters, Fire Chief Richard Belmonte told the ViIlage Board last Tuesday.

A $310,000 grant will be used to replace one of two of the village’s engines that were purchased in 1987 and 1988. Belmonte explained that under the grant, a minimum of 5 percent of local funding is required to be provided by the village. The village pledged 10 percent, or $30,225. That, said the chief, may have sweetened the pot toward the village receiving the federal funds.

“We offered 10 percent to move it along,” Belmonte said.

The adjusted amount received by the department is $279,775.

A second grant in the amount of $134,689 will be used to purchase 22 air packs, 22 spare air bottles, 16 face pieces and a rapid intervention pack used by a standby team for rapid rescues. The village again pledged 10 percent of local funding, or $14,551.

Belmonte credited Lt. Jeff LeBeda for writing the successful grant applications. LeBeda, who applied for the grants about three months ago, has been attending grant-writing seminars.

“It’s getting tougher and tougher because every year they are giving less money to the fire service,” Belmonte said. “That was one of my goals when I became chief was to look for funding.”

One of the conditions is that the equipment needs to be purchased within one year of receiving the grants. Belmonte said it takes about seven months to build an engine on order.

As for the new truck, he said it will not necessarily have all the bells and whistles.
“We’re going for a basic rig for what we need on the street,” Belmonte said.

Village President Paul Gattuso heaped accolades on Belmonte.

“I’m very proud of him,” Gattuso said. “It’s big; we couldn’t have gotten the grants at a better time. The timing is perfect.”