The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the fifth round of the FY 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, awarding 162 grants to fire departments throughout the United States. This round of fire grants provides more than $14.4 million 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 East Columbus (Ind.) Fire Department, $885,556; Walton County (Fla.) Fire Rescue, $485,985; and the Central Valley Fire District, Belgrade, Mont., $360,747. 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.