FEMA Announces Nineteenth Round Of Grants To Aid America's Firefighters 

Alabama Receives $400,458 To Assist Local Fire Departments In Latest Round Of Grants

Release Date: October 23, 2003
Release Number: R4-03-212

Atlanta, GA -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 156 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the nineteenth round of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The grants will ultimately total approximately 7,000 awards worth $750 million in direct assistance to firefighters.

Included in the announcement were awards for five communities in Alabama.

"President Bush's support of first responders is unprecedented, as evidence through this grant program which puts resources directly into our nation's fire departments and the communities they serve," said Brown. "As I told the International Association of Fire Chiefs last week, the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA are committed to our first responders and will continue providing critical financial support to this courageous and dedicated group. I'd also like to remind departments that the 2003 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant application period is currently open."

This nineteenth round of grants provides nearly $21 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.

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

Seven Hills Fire District Firefighting Vehicle $178,200 Mobile
Hollins Fire and Rescue Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $51,998 Hollins
Reece City Volunteer Fire Department Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $44,820 Attalla
Arkadelphia Volunteer Fire Department Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $112,037 Bremen
Toney Volunteer Fire Department Emergency Medical Services $13,403 Toney

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administers the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program. 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, 24-Oct-2003 09:11:22