The North Tonawanda Fire Department will replace an aging fire hose with help from a grant through the federal government. U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Niagara Falls and Buffalo, visited the Lumber City on Wednesday to announce the award of the $174,600 grant, which was awarded to the city's department by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighter's Grant Program. The program is dedicated to helping firefighters have proper equipment and make appropriate safety upgrades. Fire Chief Joseph Sikora said the department will use the money to replace a 30-year-old fire hose that is no longer functioning properly. Sikora said the replacement has been long overdue. "Our hose was aging and each year, during our annual testing, many links were failing,” he said.