Round Twenty-Nine Of The Assistance To Firefighters Grants To Aid America's Fire Departments Announced By FEMA
Oregon Receives $97,173 to Assist Local Fire Departments in Latest Round of Grants

Release Date: January 16, 2004 Release number: R10-04-079

SALEM, Ore. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 151 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the twenty-ninth round of the fiscal year 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The grants will ultimately total approximately 7,000 awards worth $750 million in direct assistance to firefighters. Included in the announcement of this latest round were awards for two Oregon communities, including grants to enhance fire operations and firefighter safety in Astoria and Sandy:

• Knappa-Svensen-Burnside RFPD $32,373
• Sandy Rural Fire Protection District N. 72 $64,800

"We continue to distribute these monies appropriated by Congress and signed into law by President Bush." said Brown. "President Bush, Secretary Ridge and I continue our commitment to support America's firefighters with the distribution of these critical funds, and are looking to start distributing the 2004 AFG information."

This twenty-ninth round of grants provides $14.7 million to help local fire departments fund the purchase of firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire prevention and safety programs. Since June, over 7800 fire departments have received almost $619 million to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve as firefighters.

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administers the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program. The program assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. A list of all current award recipients announced to date is posted on the USFA web site at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants. Future grant recipients will be listed as awards are made.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.