Release Date: November 30, 2007
Release Number: R10-08-025
SEATTLE, Wash. Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded two Assistance-to-Firefighters Grants (AFGs), totaling $91,034 to the Mason and Pierce County Fire Districts. The grants will be applied to those departments operations and safety initiatives. Nationally, the fiscal year (FY) 2007 AFG awards, which will be distributed in phases, will ultimately provide over $490 million to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations throughout the country.
While we continue to distribute these critical funds weekly so firefighters have the tools they need to protect their communities, this is also a time of year when cooking and heating fires increase, said U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade. As we continue to prepare the nations fire departments, all residents are encouraged to take a few moments to make sure fire prevention is a topic of discussion and action at this time of year.
This weeks round of national fire grants amounts to almost $5 million nationwide; in Washington, the Mason County Fire District #4 received a $36,000 award, and the Pierce County Fire District # 27 received a grant award of $55,034.
AFG awards aim to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and other hazards. The grants enable local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs, and buy equipment and response vehicles. AFG also supports regional projects in which multiple organizations serving more than one local jurisdiction benefit directly from activities implemented with grant funds.
Since FY 2001, and including FY 2007, over $3.3 billion in AFG funding has been distributed to fire departments and first responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, vehicles and fire prevention activities. AFG is administered cooperatively by two FEMA components: the National Preparedness Directorate and the United States Fire Administration.
The full list of FY 2007 AFG recipients and other information is posted on the AFG website (www.firegrantsupport.com).
FEMA coordinates the federal governments role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Friday, 30-Nov-2007 03:55:56