The City of New Braunfels has been awarded a federal grant from FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security for the purchase of new smoke detectors and smoke detector batteries for New Braunfels residents. The federal funding is part of FEMA’s Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program, which is designed to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters and allows the New Braunfels Fire Department to continue its long-standing free smoke detector program for residents that are over the age of 65 or those with disabilities.
The grant, totaling $38,571.42 - along with a $1,928.58 contribution from the City of New Braunfels – brings the total amount of funds for this program to $40,500 to be spent over a two-year period. In the first year, those funds will go to purchase 1,500 long-lasting, 10-year batteries to be used to replace short-life batteries in existing smoke detectors installed in the homes of elderly citizens and residents with disabilities. Additionally, over the two years of the program, those funds will also be used to purchase 1,500 long-lasting sealed smoke detectors with a non-removable 10-year battery for continuous power to be installed in the homes of elderly citizens and residents with disabilities.
“This free smoke detector program is a tremendous benefit to our community and a great service provided by the City,” said New Braunfels City Manager Robert Camareno. “We are grateful to FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security for seeing the value of this program and providing this funding.”
Residents who are 65 and older or residents with disabilities that would like to participate in the free smoke detector program should contact the New Braunfels Fire Department at 830-221-4206 or email smokedetector@newbraunfels.gov.
“This is the first time that FEMA has directly awarded a grant to the New Braunfels Fire Department,” said New Braunfels Fire Chief Ruy Lozano. “I would like to thank the City of New Braunfels grant writing team and Fire Marshal Matthew Bushnell for their hard work in the pursuit of this grant.”
For more about the New Braunfels Fire Department, visit www.newbraunfels.gov/fire.
