Round Twenty-Six Of The Assistance To Firefighters Grants To Aid America's Fire Departments Announced By FEMA
Oregon Receives $154,908 To Assist Local Fire Departments In Latest Round Of Grants
Release Date: December 12, 2003
Release Number: R10-04-56
SALEM, Ore. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 198 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the twenty-sixth 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 two Oregon communities, including grants to Hoodland Fire District #74 ($109,908 for fire prevention), and Hazeldell Rural Fire District ($45,000 for a firefighting vehicle).
"The call to duty for first responders can be the western wildfires or the northeast snowstorms that we have recently experienced," said Brown. “President Bush, Secretary Ridge and I continue our commitment to support America’s firefighters through these critical funds designed to protect this nation.”
This twenty-sixth round of grants provides almost $23 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 6800 fire departments have received almost $518 million to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve as firefighters.
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 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, 12-Dec-2003 07:55:49