Ingoglia says he still has another $2M in combined funds to grant first responders.
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Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia distributed $1 million in state funding to four Fire Departments in South Florida.
Ingoglia held a check presentation ceremony at a West Palm Beach fire station. The Departments receiving the checks included Green Acres, West Palm Beach, Highland Beach and Southwest Ranches.
Ingoglia has distributed about $30 million to various Fire Departments across the state since he was appointed CFO last year. The money comes from the Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Fund, the Firefighter Assistance Grant Program and other state funding.
“Florida is fortunate to have the very best firefighters and first responders in the nation,” Ingoglia said, noting that they face some of the most serious risks entering scenes with hazardous materials that cause cancer.
“If we’re going to ask our brothers and sisters to move towards that, we need to make sure we take care of them after that.”
The bulk of the funding granted Monday went to Southwest Ranches Fire Department. A $900,000 check was given to the agency. It will go to building a new fire station.
Southwest Ranches Fire Chief Lee Bennett said the community is growing with new residents every day. He added that the new fire station can’t come soon enough.
“We have an influx of people moving into the Ranches,” Bennett said. “So, our call volume’s rising and this equipment helps save lives.”
A check worth more than $56,000 was cut for Southwest Ranches firefighters coming from the Cancer Decontamination Fund. That state fund is designed to provide equipment for first responders who are exposed to materials while responding to fires that can cause cancer.
The West Palm Beach Fire Department received just under $20,000 from that Decontamination Fund. West Palm Beach Fire Chief Diana Matty said the funding is put to good use.
“I hope that one day this is expanded to female-specific cancer,” Matty said. “Our goal is to minimize exposure and to prevent them from getting sick in the first place.”
Highland Beach received just under $6,000, and Green Acres was presented with just over $6,800 in funds.
Ingoglia said his Office still has another $1 million from each state source to distribute to first responders and advised Fire Chiefs to contact his office if they need funding.
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