Maine Fire Departments Receive $222K in Firefighter Assistance Grants from FEMA 

Release Date: February 8, 2008
Release Number: R1-08-017

BOSTON, Maine -- Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $222,657 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) to local fire departments in the state of Maine. 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.

"These Assistance to Firefighters grants represent a major effort by the federal government to ensure the nation's firefighters continue to have the basic capability they require to do their jobs, improve safety and save lives," said Greg Cade, United States Fire Administrator.

This week's round of national fire grants includes the following in Maine:

Fire Department Program Grant Amount City
Penobscot Nation Fire Department Operations and Safety $23,157 Indian Island
Wilton Fire Department Operations and Safety $199,500 Wilton

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 Web site (www.firegrantsupport.com) .

The full list of recent news releases are posted on the FEMA Region I Web page.

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, 08-Feb-2008 16:45:38