Round Thirty-Two Of The Assistance To Firefighters Grants To Aid America's Fire Departments Announced By FEMA
Oregon Receives $98,434 to Assist Local Fire Departments in Latest Round of Grants

Release Date: February 6, 2004 Release number: R10-04-085

SALEM, Ore. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 174 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the thirty-second 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 Idaho communities: Helix Rural Fire Protection District ($27,584) and Harrisburg Fire and Rescue ($70,850) to enhance fire operations and firefighter safety.

"President Bush, Secretary Ridge and I maintain our commitment to support America's firefighters with the distribution of these critical funds," said Brown. "Along with Congress, which appropriated the fire grant funding, we'll continue to support our first responders to ensure that they have the equipment and training necessary to respond to all hazards, man-made or natural."

This thirty-second round of grants provides over $12 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, nearly 8300 fire departments have received over $663 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 www.usfa.fema.gov/grants.

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.