WASHINGTON, DC – Michael D. Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced another 198 grants to fire departments this week in round 26 of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grant program. Since June, over 6,800 fire departments have received over $517 million to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve as firefighters. 

Click here to view the recipients list.

"The call to duty for first responders can be the western wildfires or the northeast snowstorms that we have recently experienced," said Brown.  “President Bush, Secretary Ridge and I continue our commitment to support America’s firefighters through these critical funds designed to protect this nation.”

The Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. These funds are used by the nation’s firefighters to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, emergency medical service programs, and fire prevention and safety programs. 

Fire departments having questions regarding the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program can reach the FEMA Grant Program staff at 1-866-274-0960 or via email at usfagrants@fema.gov. For the most current information regarding these grant awards and many other USFA projects, visit USFA's Web site or enroll in the USFA email distribution listserv for the most current news releases from the USFA.