The Federal Emergency Management Agency's U.S. Fire Administration received a record 19,500 online applications from fire departments nationwide for the Assistance to Firefighters grant program. The application deadline was April 5 for the USFA's $360 million grant program aimed at improving operations, services and equipment for the first responder communities.

“The response to this program has been outstanding and highlights the needs of our fire service first responders across the country,” FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh said.

This was the first year FEMA encouraged and accepted online applications; only 50 paper applications were submitted as a result of the new method. ln addition, the total number of applications this year was almost 1,000 more than the previous year. In all, the total of all applications requested more than $2.2 billion for basic firefighting needs.

USFA is conducting a series of peer review panels to review the applications and offer recommendations on how to award the grants. Following the completion of this process, FEMA will begin awarding grants in late May or early June and will continue through the fall.

“In the review process, FEMA will be sure to balance the needs of all communities, including rural, suburban and urban departments around the country,” U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison said. “In addition, the distribution of funds will also be weighted to include departments with volunteers, career staff or a combination of volunteer and career staff.”

For more information, visit <<a href="http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants" target="_blank">www.usfa.fema.gov/grants>, call 866-274-0960, or e-mail <usfagrants@fema.gov>.