Griffo Secures $100,000 for Utica Fire Academy

UTICA – Sen. Joseph A. Griffo today announced that he has secured $100,000 for the benefit of the Utica Fire Academy. The announcement was made at the Utica Fire Department’s live burn fire training tower on Leland Avenue, which will be upgraded with the funds.

“The Utica Fire Academy provides an invaluable resource for its students and for our community’s first responders who are looking for additional training opportunities,” said Griffo, R-Rome. “The tower is a safe and controlled environment for the academy’s live fire training, which is essential for determining a student’s or trainee’s responses while in a burning building. This training saves lives. I am pleased that I was able to secure these funds for needed upgrades.”

Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri said: “This funding will enhance lifesaving training for students in the Fire Academy.  Senator Griffo has been a tireless advocate for the City of Utica and we thank him for delivering for Utica once again.”

Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks added, “Students can learn a lot in a classroom.  But our live burn training tower is where they get to put their knowledge to use. The exercise gives the trainee an opportunity to use teamwork and proper equipment to locate the source of a fire and work to extinguish it. It gives the instructors real-life examples to use to explain safe firefighting operations, which protects firefighters from injury or even death. These funds are sorely needed and we would not have them without Senator Griffo’s advocacy. I thank him for securing this money on our behalf.”

The state funds will be administered by the state Dormitory Authority.