Round Twenty-Eight Of The Assistance To Firefighters Grants To Aid America's Fire Departments Announced By FEMA 

Washington State Receives $1.3 Million to Assist Local Fire Departments in Latest Round of Grants

Release Date: January 9, 2004
Release Number: R10-04-74

» 2004 Region X News Releases

SEATTLE, Wash.-- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 347 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the twenty-eighth round of the fiscal year 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 of this latest round were awards for seven Washington communities, including grants to Chehalis, Kelso, Montesano, Westport, Seattle, Orting and DuPont.

"President Bush, Secretary Ridge and I continue 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 twenty-eighth round of grants provides over $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, over 7600 fire departments have received over $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 Washington:

Chehalis Fire Department $ 15,448 Fire Prevention
Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue $271,926 Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety
City of Montesano Fire Department $102,564 Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety
Westport Fire Department $ 76,950 Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety
Seattle Fire Department $736,750 Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety
Pierce County Fire District $ 57,600 Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety
DuPont Fire Department $116,343 Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety

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. Current award recipients announced to date are 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 the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Modified: Friday, 09-Jan-2004 11:18:44