6 Virginia Fire Departments Get Assistance To Firefighters Grants
Release Date: January 9, 2004
Release Number: R3-04-03
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 347 grants to fire departments throughout the United States in the 28th round of the fiscal year 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.
The announcement included six awards totaling $1,092,327 for the Virginia communities of Warsaw, Virginia Beach, Surry, Smithfield, Colonial Heights and Duffield.
“President Bush, Secretary Ridge and I continue our commitment to support America’s firefighters with the distribution of these critical funds, and look to completing the 2003 AFG program early in 2004,” said Brown.
This 28th round of grants provides more than $40 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. Since June, more than 7,600 fire departments have received more than $604 million to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve as firefighters.
Grants have been made available to the following fire departments in Virginia:
- Richmond County Volunteer Fire Dept. in Warsaw, Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety, $203,641
- City of Virginia Beach, Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety, $465,399
- Surry Volunteer Fire Dept., Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety, $74,698
- Smithfield Volunteer Fire Dept., Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety, $46,251
- Colonial Heights Fire & EMS, Firefighting Vehicle, $225,000
- Jasper Volunteer Fire Dept., Inc., in Duffield, Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety, $77,338
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administers the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. A list of all award recipients is posted on the USFA web site at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants.
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 the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 09-Jan-2004 16:04:35