Homeland Security Announces Grants To Florida Fire Departments To Support Key First Responders 

Florida Receives $302,036 to Assist Firefighters in First Round of Grants

Release Date: June 13, 2003
Release Number: R4-03-63

Atlanta, GA -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced today the first 218 grants of what will ultimately reach approximately 7,000 grants totaling $750 million in direct assistance to firefighters from the 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grant program.

Included in the announcement were awards totaling $302,036 for five Florida communities.

"The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program is a great example of how Homeland Security is putting key resources directly into neighborhoods and communities to better secure the homeland," said Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

The first round of grants included $13.2 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.

"Providing these funds to the local fire departments is key to President Bush's commitment to support the men and women who protect our communities," said Brown.

Grants have been made available to the following fire departments in Florida:

Country Oaks Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. Firefighting Vehicle 88,650 Chipley
Five Points Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety 43,200 Caryville
Altha Volunteer Fire Dept. Firefighting Vehicle 139,694 Altha
Madison Volunteer Fire Department Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety 12,510 Madison
City of Umatilla Volunteer Fire Department Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety 17,982 Umatilla

For more information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, please visit www.usfa.fema.gov. Each week's recipients, including those announced in this first round, will be made available each Friday morning.

Last Modified: Monday, 16-Jun-2003 16:34:14