Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., is pleased to announce that Rock Springs area residents will soon have additional firefighting assistance.

The Sweetwater County Fire District #1 grant application for fire operations and firefighter safety, submitted under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, has been approved.

Sweetwater County Fire District #1 will receive $35,247 in grant money, or 90 percent of the approved project cost of $39,163 to fund new equipment and advanced training for firefighter safety. The remaining $3,916 or 10 percent of the cost will be shared by the town.

"Well equipped local fire departments are very important in Wyoming for preventing loss of life and property," said Enzi. "This grant money will help bring the Sweetwater County Department up to 100 percent firefighting capability according to national standards."

Earlier this year, the United States Fire Administration (USFA) accepted applications from career and state-recognized volunteer fire companies for grants that could be used for training, sponsoring education programs and purchasing and updating equipment.

Enzi sent a letter to paid and volunteer fire companies in Wyoming, as well as the Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, that outlined information about the grants.

Nationally, more than 19,500 fire departments applied for grants this year, submitting requests totaling almost $2.2 billion. FEMA and the USFA plan to announce 5,500 grants, totaling $360 million. Other Wyoming fire departments may still be eligible to receive fire grants.

More information about the grants is available by visiting the USFA website (www.usfa.fema.gov/grants).