"Assistance To Firefighters Grant" Awards Total More Than $125 Million 

Arizona Receives $93,885 to Assist Local Fire Departments in Latest Round of Grants

Release Date: August 8, 2003
Release Number: R9-03-53

» 2003 Region IX News Releases

Oakland, CA -- Michael D. Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 232 grants to fire departments throughout the United States in the ninth 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 of this latest round were awards for fire departments in two Arizona communities including Phoenix and Sahuarita.

"Our nation's first responders serve a critical role in our homeland security. Thanks to President Bush and Congress, first responders are directly receiving millions of dollars to support their life-saving mission," said Under Secretary Brown. "This is a significant investment in the response capabilities and the safety of the men and women who answer the call to protect the residents of their communities."

This ninth round of grants provides more than $17.6 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 for fire operations and firefighter safety to the following fire departments in Arizona:

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administers the Assistance to 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 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: Monday, 11-Aug-2003 08:52:41