Lytle Volunteer Fire Department officials expressed gratitude and were excited to receive word that their department has been awarded a $294,914 grant from the Department of Homeland Security. The money will be used for the purchase of a new fire truck that will come fully equipped with ladders, hoses, nozzles, and pike poles. The grant announcement was made today by Congressman Henry Cuellar.

“This new apparatus and equipment will help us better serve our rapidly growing community,” said Lytle Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ernest Morales. “On behalf of the City of Lytle, surrounding counties, and the Lytle Volunteer Fire Department, we thank Congressman Cuellar for helping us secure these funds. We will make a valiant effort to maximize the potential effects this award has to offer.”

The fire truck that will be purchased with the awarded funds will improve the response time to the scene of a rescue, as well as allow firefighters to efficiently manage multiple scenes at the same time with different firefighting/rescue vehicles.

“I applaud the efforts of the Lytle Volunteer Fire Department and congratulate them on receiving this grant,” said Congressman Cuellar, who is the Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response. “I know the strong impact that volunteer fire departments have on rural areas, and I commend them for everything they are doing to secure the safety of their community’s residents.”

Grants under the Vehicle Acquisition Program Area are very competitive and hard to obtain, and Congressman Cuellar is pleased to announce that the Lytle Volunteer Fire Department was one of few in the state of Texas to receive the grant.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grants program provides funding to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of the departments and non-affiliated emergency medical services organizations. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program will help enhance first responders’ ability to protect the health and safety of citizens in Lytle and the San Antonio area. Since 2004, AFG has provided a total of almost $2.2 billion to first-responder organizations for the purchase of equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Homeland Security, Small Business, and Agriculture Committees in the 110th Congress; accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip.

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