Collins Announces Opening Of Firefighters Grant Application Period

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that Maine's first responders can apply for Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program funds from June 11, 2012 at 8:00 am until July 06, 2012 at 5:00 pm.  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency administers the grants.

These grants help fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations meet their firefighting and emergency response needs.  The AFG Program helps equip these organizations with the resources necessary to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and their emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards.

"The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is an extremely critical source of funds for our fire and rescue personnel," said Senator Collins, who is Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.   "These grants provide Maine's fire departments with the support needed to purchase vehicles, life-saving equipment, and conduct training to develop the skills to better serve their communities."

Senator Collins strongly supported the creation of the AFG Program, and is a sponsor of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act which reauthorizes this and other key firefighter programs, including FP&S and SAFER.  Since its inception, Maine fire departments have been awarded more than $56 million in AFG funds, including $2.1 million in fiscal year 2011. 

Grant guidance for this program is available at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants/.  FEMA's AFG help desk can be reached at (1-866-274-0960), or by email at firegrants@dhs.gov.  For additional information please feel free to contact Jared Golden of Senator Collins' Washington, D.C., staff at (202-224-4751), or by email at (Jared_Golden@HSGAC.Senate.Gov).