Congressman McHenry Announces $194,761.90 Homeland Security Grant to South Iredell Fire-Rescue in Iredell County

U.S. Department of Homeland Security awards Assistance to Firefighter Grant funds to local department

Washington - Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) announced $194,761.90 in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant to a local fire department in the Tenth Congressional District.

The grant will go to the South Iredell Fire-Rescue in Iredell County and comes in the second round of the 2021 fiscal year Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG), which aims to help firefighters and first responders throughout the country. Local departments apply for the grants from the program which is administered by the Grant Programs Directorate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. 

According to South Iredell Assistant Fire Chief Stewart Sherrill, the grant will be used to purchase twenty-six new air packs to replace the department’s stock of older ones that are nearing seventeen years old. 

“South Iredell Fire-Rescue protects one of the fastest growing areas in the Tenth District and having up-to-date equipment is vitally important,” said Congressman McHenry. “I want to congratulate the department on a winning application and thank them for all they do to protect the lives and property of Iredell County residents.”

A panel of fire experts at DHS awards AFG grants through a competitive review process. Congressman McHenry hosts workshops for 10th District EMS and fire departments to help guide personnel through the process and give them an inside view of what the committee looks for. The workshops are taught by Tenth District fire service professionals.   

South Iredell is one of two Tenth District departments to receive AFG funding thus far during the 2021 cycle with a total of $1,034,707.35 in AFG funds having been awarded among those departments.

Grants will continue to be announced in weekly rounds through the coming months.