The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the ninth round of the Fiscal Year 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, awarding 540 grants to fire departments throughout the United States.

This ninth round of fire grants provides $55,698,805 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.

AFGP will issue approximately 5,500 awards worth nearly $600 million in direct assistance to firefighters and first responders throughout the country, demonstrating Homeland Security's commitment to ensuring that America's firefighters have the resources they need to protect their communities. A complete list of recipients is available at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/afg/awards/05/

“The federal government continues to support the critical work of our nation’s firefighters by ensuring departments attain a basic capability level through the competitive Assistance to Firefighters Grant program,” said Charlie Dickinson, deputy administrator of the U.S Fire Administration.

The FIRE Grant Program is administered by the Office for State and Local Government Coordination & Preparedness in cooperation with the USFA.

“We recognize the importance of the Fire Act Grants to our nation’s fire departments and we will continue to work closely with the fire service community to meet their needs,” said Matt A. Mayer, acting executive director of the SLGCP.