FEMA Announces Nineteenth Round Of Grants To Aid America's Firefighters 

Arizona Receives More Than $850,000 To Assist Local Fire Departments

Release Date: October 24, 2003
Release Number: R9-03-98

» 2003 Region IX News Releases

Oakland, CA -- Michael D. Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 156 grants to fire departments throughout the United States in the nineteenth 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 four communities in Arizona: Tucson, Taylor, Parks and Prescott.

"President Bush's support of first responders is unprecedented, as evidenced through this grant program which puts resources directly into our nation's fire departments and the communities they serve," said Brown. "As I told the International Association of Fire Chiefs last week, the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA are committed to our first responders and will continue providing critical financial support to this courageous and dedicated group. I'd also like to remind departments that the 2003 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant application period is currently open."

This nineteenth round of grants provides nearly $21 million to help local fire departments purchase 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 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: Friday, 24-Oct-2003 11:54:04