NORWICH—The City of Norwich Fire Department (NFD) was recently awarded more than one half of $1 million in federal grant funding to assistance the department in securing additional paid firemen.

The Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) award in the total amount of $560,694 was disbursed last week to the NFD, which is currently the only paid fire department in Chenango County.

The 2014 round of FEMA's SAFER grants were awarded to a number of fire departments, and represent the interests of both paid and volunteer firefighters.

State senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer endorsed that application for the grant.

“Our first responders are our primary line of defense—they safeguard our residents and protect our property, said Schumer. “That’s why it is crucial we provide them the support they need to hire an adequate number of staff so they can do their jobs to the best of their ability and keep the community safe.”