The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has released the ninth round of Assistance to Firefighters Grant program awards for FY '06, naming 246 departments and districts throughout the United States as recipients. The grants total nearly $25.5 million.

The largest grants announced were for the Charlotte (N.C.) Fire Department, $864,800; Collingswood (N.J.) Fire Department, $612,750; Kingston (R.I.) Fire District, $446,782; and Dubuque (Iowa) Fire Department, $429,200. A complete list of FY '06 AFG recipients is available at www.firegrantsupport.com.

DHS also announced the 10th round of FY '06 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants. Fourteen agencies were named recipients of awards totaling nearly $1.5 million. Those receiving the largest awards were the Asheboro (N.C.) Fire Department, $310,500; Paris (Ky.) Fire Department, $306,936; and Ralston (Neb.) Volunteer Fire Department, $229,320. A complete list of FY '06 SAFER grant recipients is available at www.firegrantsupport.com.