FEMA Director To Present Seattle Fire Grant
Release Date: July 24, 2002
Release Number: R10-02-52
Seattle, WA-- FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh will present the Seattle Fire Department with a grant to help support local firefighters Thursday, July 25, 2002 at 1:00 p.m. at Seattle Fire Department Headquarters, 301 2nd Avenue South. The Department applied to the 2002 FEMA Assistance to Fire Fighters program in March to purchase new life saving equipment and provide more firefighter training.
The $660,000 award will be used to upgrade firefighter face pieces, buy longer-lasting air bottles, rescue tools, thermal-imaging cameras, portable radios and provide additional rescue training for the entire department.
"The award addresses my primary concern which is increasing firefighter safety. Keeping fire- fighters safe allows us to provide better service to the community," said Fire Chief Gary Morris.
The FEMA Assistance to Fire Fighters Program is designed to increase the effectiveness of fire fighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, EMS programs, and Fire Prevention and Safety Programs. FEMA and the USFA (United States Fire Administration) will be announcing a total of 5,500 grants over the next five months. The awards represent a $360 million investment to enhance fire and EMS service delivery throughout the United States.
"As recent history has shown us, this nation's fire departments are the first responders into almost every emergency," said FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh. "Through this award program, President Bush has provided FEMA the opportunity to improve significantly the safety of these men and women, and the Fire and EMS services they provide to Americans."
More than 19,000 fire departments applied for grants this year. The grants, authorized by Congress, will be used to assist rural, urban and suburban fire departments around the country.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 27-Aug-2003 15:31:58