10/12/2026
The North Oakland County Fire Authority (NOCFA), in partnership with the Oxford Fire Department, Village of Holly Fire Department and Groveland Township Fire Department, has been awarded $698,071 through FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Operations and Safety Program.
The regional grant will support the replacement of 15 aging cardiac monitors used by the four participating fire departments. NOCFA will serve as the fiduciary agency for the grant and administer the award on behalf of the regional partners.
The cardiac monitors currently used by the participating departments have reached, or are approaching, the end of their useful service life. As the equipment has aged, the monitors have become increasingly difficult and costly to maintain and repair. The new equipment will provide firefighter/paramedics with dependable, modern technology for assessing, treating, and monitoring patients experiencing cardiac and other life-threatening medical emergencies.
Collectively, the four departments serve approximately 50,000 residents and respond to more than 5,000 emergency incidents each year. The regional project will help ensure that frontline personnel throughout the participating communities have access to reliable cardiac monitoring equipment regardless of where an emergency occurs.
“This regional grant award is a tremendous example of what can be accomplished through cooperation, collaboration, and a shared commitment to serving our communities,” said NOCFA Fire Chief Matt Weil. “NOCFA, the Village of Holly Fire Department, Groveland Township Fire Department, and Oxford Fire Department came together with a common goal of replacing critical medical equipment that has reached the end of its service life. The cooperation and resolve among all four departments to bring this project across the finish line has been tremendous.”
Weil added that replacing this equipment without federal assistance would create a significant financial challenge for the participating communities.
“Our current monitors have served us well, but they are aging, becoming increasingly problematic to maintain and repair, and reaching a point where replacement is necessary,” Weil said. “Replacing 15 highly specialized pieces of medical equipment at one time represents a
significant investment. Without programs such as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant, projects of this magnitude would be extremely difficult for our communities to accomplish.”
The grant also highlights the importance of regional cooperation among neighboring fire and EMS agencies. Each participating department contributed to the development and support of the project, allowing the agencies to pursue a common solution to a shared operational need.
“We are fortunate to have outstanding partners in the Village of Holly Fire Department, Groveland Township Fire Department, and Oxford Fire Department,” Weil said. “This award demonstrates what can be achieved when neighboring departments work together rather than attempting to solve the same challenges independently.”
The participating departments also expressed their appreciation to Senator Gary Peters and his office, FEMA, and the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program for their continued support of local fire and emergency medical services.
“We are grateful for the support of our federal partners and for the continued investment of the AFG program in local public safety,” Weil said. “I also want to recognize our grant-writing team for the tremendous amount of work that went into developing this successful regional application.”
“Ultimately, this award is about putting dependable, lifesaving equipment in the hands of our firefighter/paramedics and ensuring that the residents of all four communities continue to receive the emergency medical care they expect and deserve. We are extremely thankful for this investment in our departments and, most importantly, in the people we collectively serve."
Oxford Fire Department-Michigan
