<b> The Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company (PVFC) has been awarded a $16,200 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to replace outdated thermal imaging cameras, the eighth time PVFC has received federal funds under this program. <b/>
 
<b> "We are extremely appreciative to our Congressional delegation for its continued support in helping the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company secure these much-needed funds," said Tom Barrett, immediate past president of the company. “This federal funding will allow us to continue to provide this valuable state-of-the-art support for our community and our volunteer personnel.” <b/>
 
<b> The grant will allow for two of the company’s thermal imagers to be replaced, and PVFC will provide a 10 percent ($1,800) match. The two imagers were issued to PVFC by the Baltimore County Fire Department in 1999, and while fully functional, the technology has now become obsolete and the county does not have budget funds available for replacement. <b/>
 
<b> "Thermal imaging cameras are a key tool in a firefighter's arsenal, allowing us to see through blinding smoke, find hidden fire, and locate people who may be trapped in a dangerous environment," said PVFC Captain Glenn Resnick.  "This grant will play a significant role in helping us upgrade this critical technology." <b/>
 
<b> PVFC has received more than $306,000 in AFG federal funding since the grant program was launched in 2001. Other grants have paid for wellness/fitness equipment for firefighters; a sprinkler system, emergency generator and exhaust removal system for the firehouse; and equipment and training for members of PVFC’s specialty Confined Space rescue team. <b/>
 
<b> The AFG program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the auspices of the United States Department of Homeland Security. <b/>