The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the first awards of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program for FY 06, naming 860 departments and districts throughout the United States as recipients. The grants total nearly $92 million.

The largest grants announced were each near three-quarters of a million dollars. The Division of Fire and Rescue Services of Frederick (Md.) received $795,400. The Salinas (Calif.) Rural Fire Protection District was granted $742,000. Covington (Mich.) Township also was awarded $742,000.

The average amount for this initial round of grants was $106,665. A complete list of FY 06 AFG recipients is available at www.firegrantsupport.com.

DHS also announced the third round of FY 06 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants. Twenty-one agencies were named recipients of awards totaling $7.25 million. The two largest awards will be funding staffing initiatives in Florida. Edgewater Fire Rescue and North Four Myers Fire Control and Rescue Services will each be receiving $931,500. A complete list of FY 06 SAFER grant recipients is available at www.firegrantsupport.com.