The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the third round of the Fiscal Year 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, awarding 163 grants to fire departments throughout the United States. This round of fire grants provides $8,072,570 to help local fire departments and emergency medical services programs to purchase or receive training, first responder health and safety programs, equipment, and response vehicles.

The largest grants of the round were awarded to the Powell’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, Whitwell, Tenn. ($99,001); the Deerfield (N.Y.) Volunteer Fire Department ($97,090); the Redings Mill Fire Protection District, Joplin, Mo. ($94,687); and the Westfield (Ind.) Washington Township Fire Department ($94,050). A complete list of FY 06 FIRE Grant recipients is available at www.firegrantsupport.com.

The DHS Office of Grants and Training administers the grants in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. In 2005, Congress reauthorized the FIRE Grant program to run through 2010.