Washington State Fire Districts Receives $608,667 In Firefighter Assistance Grants from FEMA 

Release Date: September 28, 2007
Release Number: R10-07-068

» 2007 Region X News Releases

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $608,667 in Assistance-to-Firefighters Grants (AFG) to various fire departments in Washington. 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.

"I am proud to be part of a great program that assists in making our nation better prepared for emergencies and disasters," said US Fire Administrator Greg Cade. "I would also like thank our nation's first responders and organizations who worked so diligently this September to make ‘National Preparedness Month 2007' such a successful effort to further prepare our nation."

This week's round of national fire grants total over $32 million distributed to departments throughout the ten (10) FEMA Regional offices. This week's Assistance-to-Firefighters Grant Program includes grants to the following Washington fire departments:

Snohomish County Fire Protection District 17 Operations and Safety  $ 158,650
Kittitas County fire District #7 Operations and Safety $ 189,992
City of Pasco Fire Department Operations and Safety $ 70,614
Prosser Fire District 3 Operations and Safety $ 189,411

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 government's 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, 28-Sep-2007 08:03:03