Blaise Ingoglia distributes millions of funds to Gulf Coast and Central Florida fire agencies

Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia distributed a collective $14 million to about a dozen fire departments and agencies on Thursday.

Ingoglia, who also serves as Florida Fire Marshal, held a news conference at a Hillsborough County fire station and presented the checks to firefighters in departments across the Gulf Coast and Central Florida. The funds come from the state’s Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Grant Program and the Firefighter Assistance Grant Program, he said.

“We do not forget about our first responders. We do not leave them out in the field,” Ingoglia said. “They are the backbone of our communities here in Florida.”

Ingoglia acknowledged that today’s firefighters face more chemical threats than ever before, and first responders risk contracting cancer more than most people realize.

But he also stressed that some of the funding is going to help firefighters recover from post-traumatic stress.

“They have a very tough time in recovering. This is something we should talk about more,” Ingoglia said. “This is starting to hit epidemic proportions. We need to make sure we take care of them on the back end.”

Ingoglia has held similar ceremonies distributing funds to fire departments in the past year.

Hillsborough County Fire Chief Jason Dougherty said first responders have come to rely on Ingoglia.

“Through his leadership, he has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting firefighters and first responders, ensuring departments like ours have the resources necessary to perform our duties safely and effectively,” Dougherty said.

The fire departments and agencies receiving funds on Thursday include:

— Pasco County Fire and Rescue, $3.42 million.

— St. Petersburg Beach Fire Rescue, $3 million.

— Lake Wales Fire Department, $3 million.

— Bartow Fire Department, $2.4 million.

— Lakeland Fire Department, $900,000.

— Port Richey Fire Department, $800,000.

— Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, $263,133.

— Responders First, First Responders Wellness Program, $66,500.

— Treasure Island Fire Rescue, $34,575.

— Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue District, $18,844.

— Temple Terrace Fire Department, $7,357.

— St. Petersburg Fire Rescue,  $24,331.

— New Port Richey Fire Department, $7,875.