FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWPORT NEWS FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT FUNDING

The City of Newport News is one of nine localities which have been awarded a terrorism prevention project grant for a regional bomb squad.

Governor Kaine announced today that the City of Newport News is one of nine localities which have been awarded a terrorism prevention project grant.  The Newport News Fire Department Bomb Team will receive $628,797 in federal funds through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice System in support of the Hampton Roads Bomb Squad Initiative.

Funds obtained through this grant will allow the purchase of a Total Containment Vessel, which is used to isolate, transport and/or detonate suspected explosive devices.  This vessel will also totally contain bomb materials before and after detonation.  In addition, a Robotic Platform, used for remote “render safe” activities, remote radiological monitoring and remote recon activity relative to bomb related response and mitigation will be purchased.  Funds will also allow the purchase of other specific related equipment and training.

“This funding opportunity provides critical training and response equipment necessary for the mitigation of the threat of all types of improvised explosive devices that we would have otherwise been unable to afford,” stated R. Lee Ware, Jr., Assistant Fire Chief and Bomb Squad Commander for the Newport News Fire Department.

Funding for the State Homeland Security Program grants comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  This grant does not require any local funding. 

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