The San Miguel Fire Department is receiving more than $1 million in federal funding to support its expansion through the construction of a new Emergency Operations Center.
"With the population growth, [it] increases the need for emergency services on a regular basis, so we're trying to prepare for that future and those needs. [With] a larger population, we're going to need a bigger facility and more people on board," said Chief Scott Young, San Miguel Fire Department.
Officials say the Emergency Operations Center will ensure that local authorities have the resources necessary to respond effectively to emergencies such as fires, flooding, storms, and earthquakes.
Local leaders gathered Tuesday to announce the $1,034,487 in funding, which Rep. Jimmy Panetta secured through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Operations Center Grant Program.
The new EOC will be built next to the existing fire station.
