-Editorial
The Calexico Fire Department has been awarded a $45,989 grant from T-Mobile, a significant boost that will enhance firefighting capabilities and safety for both firefighters and the community.
Acting Fire Chief Juan Contreras explained that the grant application process began after a meeting with a T-Mobile representative, facilitated through the company’s community outreach efforts.
“This application came about from a meeting with T-Mobile a few months back,” Contreras said. “When I was acting city manager, I met with their representative, who told us about the $25 million in grants available for Southern California and beyond. From there, our department, including our firefighters and the association, came together to apply.”
The grant funds will be used to purchase high-efficiency fire hoses and nozzles designed to improve firefighting operations. Contreras emphasized that the new equipment will reduce strain on firefighters while enhancing overall safety.
“This new equipment is not only going to help the department but also benefit the entire community,” Contreras stated. “We’ll be working with a high-flow, low-resistance fire hose that makes our job safer and more effective.”
Looking ahead, the department is actively pursuing additional funding opportunities. Contreras revealed that next month, they plan to apply for a grant from Firehouse Subs in Yuma to acquire new extrication equipment.
“It’s all part of the hard work these firefighters are doing to keep the department moving forward,” he said. “Even though I may not be at City Hall anymore, the work continues, and we’ll keep pushing for any grant opportunities that help us improve our services.”
Jodel Holiday, Senior Program Manager at T-Mobile, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting small towns and rural areas across the United States, including Puerto Rico, through initiatives like the Hometown Grant Program, which launched in April 2021.
“We started this program to invest in communities that need it most,” Holiday explained. “Each quarter, we select 25 recipients to receive grants of up to $50,000. For the quarter in which Calexico applied, there were 596 submissions. When we reviewed their application, it was clear that this was a well-deserved and necessary investment in the community.”
The new firefighting equipment will reduce physical strain on firefighters, increase efficiency in fire suppression efforts, and allow personnel to focus on other critical emergency tasks.
“This technology is going to be amazing,” Holiday added. “It not only supports the fire department’s operations but also benefits the entire community.”
T-Mobile has already awarded 375 Hometown Grants nationwide, with plans to issue 125 more in the next year and a half. In addition to this program, T-Mobile also offers other community support initiatives, including Project 10Million, which provides Wi-Fi devices to students in need, and the Friday Night 5G Lights program for high schools.
Calexico Mayor Diana Nuricumbo expressed her gratitude for the grant, emphasizing its significance for the city’s fire department.
“We’re very happy and grateful that T-Mobile looked our way and granted us this funding, which will help our fire department,” Nuricumbo said. “Our department has been struggling with staffing shortages in recent months, and we’ve also faced challenges reopening Fire Station No. 2 after many years. This grant is truly a godsend—it will provide much-needed equipment, easing some of the burdens our firefighters face. We are very thankful for this support.”
