Homeland Security Announces Fifth Round Of Grants To Arkansas Fire Departments
Arkansas Receives $138,570 to Assist Local Fire Departments
Release Date: July 11, 2003
Release Number: R6-03-45
Denton, TX -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced today the fifth round of what will ultimately total approximately 7,000 grants worth $750 million in direct assistance to firefighters from the 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grant program. Included in the announcement were awards for six communities in Arkansas, including grants to Warm Springs, Dardanelle, Bee Branch, Sparkman, Junction City, and Stamps.
"Each day, regardless of the threat, our first responders answer the call to protect fellow citizens and property. Because of that commitment, President Bush and Secretary Ridge remain steadfast in their support of first responders and the communities they safeguard," said Under Secretary Brown. "These Firefighter Grants reflect that support by providing our first responders with critical funds for equipment, training, planning and exercises."
This fifth round of grants provides nearly $10 million to help local fire departments fund the purchase of firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire prevention and safety programs. In the past five weeks, nearly 810 departments have received grants to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve.
Grants have been made available to the following fire departments in Arkansas:
- Warm Springs Vol. Fire Department, Warm Springs -- Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($19,104).
- Dardanelle Rural Fire Department, Dardanelle -- Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($32,319).
- Bee Branch Vol. Fire Department, Bee Branch -- Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($20,250).
- Manning Rural Vol. Fire Department, Sparkman -- Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($37,170).
- Junction City Vol. Fire Department, Junction City -- Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($15,633).
- Mars Hill Fire Department, Stamps -- Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($14,094).
The Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. A list of all current award recipients announced to date is posted on the USFA web site at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants. Future grant recipients will be listed as awards are made.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 11-Jul-2003 09:00:36