FEMA awards grant to Kannapolis Fire Department |

The Department of Homeland Security has awarded the Kannapolis Fire Department (KFD) a federal “Assistance to Firefighters Grant” (AFG). 

The grant will allow the Department to purchase a state-of-the-art fire safety trailer to use for training and education in fire safety and prevention. The Department’s existing trailer has been out-of-service for some time, unable to be used due to age and damage.

This marks the second grant the KFD has received in a matter of weeks. In July, it was awarded a “Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response” (SAFER) grant, enabling the Department to add 16 firefighters and a second ladder truck by fully funding the cost of the additions for two years.

This new grant, awarded through the Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) Program, will enable the Department to reinstate educational training and services to the community. Maria Bostian, Kannapolis’ Fire and Life Safety Educator, stated, “The new safety trailer will allow us to meet a wide range of educational needs for students at all levels and parents. We are very excited about the benefits the entire community will get from this.”

The trailers aid in teaching fire prevention and safety, and can include modules for various scenarios, including kitchen fires, severe weather, bedroom fires and more. They also are used to train individuals on fire extinguishers, fire escape drills, and common household injury and accident prevention.

Fire Chief Ernie Hiers explains that the grant “will enable us to enhance the public education programs we already offer by giving us the ability to provide more realistic, hands-on demonstrations. With our safety trailer out of service for so long, this interactive education is something we’ve been missing. We are so thankful for the assistance we have received through the grant programs, enabling us to provide great services to the community, without placing a financial burden on residents.”