{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westbrook-raymond-fire-departments-receive-federal-assistance-staff-and", "Westbrook, Raymond fire departments to receive federal assistance for staff and equipment needs", "2017-07-13", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today announced that Maine fire departments in Westbrook and Raymond will receive federal assistance to fill staffing and equipment needs.\n\u201cIn an era of tight municipal budgets, Maine fire departments are having a tough time keeping their life-saving equipment up to date and their staffing at needed levels. The federal Assistance to Firefighters and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant programs have been very successful in helping communities throughout Maine fill that gap, which is why I\u2019ve been proud to advocate for them in Congress,\u201d said Pingree. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m very glad that Westbrook will receive funding to make new hires and boost its emergency coverage, and that Raymond will be able to purchase critical equipment. These competitive grants are a benefit to public safety and local taxpayers.\u201d\u00a0\nThe Westbrook Fire Department will receive a $962,000 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to hire eight new firefighters. With the extra firefighters, the currently understaffed department will be able to increase coverage on its engines and free up staff for safety inspections and fire prevention efforts.\nThe Raymond Fire Department will receive a $261,905 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for a new pumper-tanker truck. \u00a0The truck will replace an aging tractor-trailer that was converted for the department in the \u201990s.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westbrook-raymond-fire-departments-receive-federal-assistance-staff-and"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3095238246023655, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}