The application period for the 2011 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program will run from Aug. 15 to Sept. 9. The $405 million in grant funds are available to paid, volunteer and combination fire departments, and non-affiliated EMS organizations for new equipment and firefighter training.

To learn more about the grant and this year's priorities, Assistant Editor Mary Rose Roberts spoke to Cathie Patterson, branch chief for FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. In the podcast, Patterson talks about the multiple programs AFG supports, from firefighting equipment like PPE to wellness and fitness programs. She also provides details on the grant's priorities and advice for successful applications.