SNOWE, COLLINS ANNOUNCE NEARLY $200,000 FOR MAINE FIRE DEPARTMENTS

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced that $199,998 in federal funding has been awarded to Maine by the Department of Homeland Security. The awards are part of the "Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program," or the FIRE Act.

"This federal funding will help local fire departments provide enhanced safety training and equipment to our first responders," Senators Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. The federal funds were allocated as follows: • $10,998 to the Byron Volunteer Fire Department.

• $189,000 to the Phillips Municipal Fire Department.

The funds awarded to the Byron Volunteer Fire Department are to be used for Operations and Firefighter Safety which includes training, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to fire stations and facilities.

The Phillips Municipal Fire Department received funding for Firefighting Vehicles, which includes pumpers, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulance, quints, aerials, foam units and fireboats

FIRE Act Grants were created with strong endorsement from Senators Snowe and Collins. These grants are awarded to fire departments across the United States to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, Emergency Medical Service programs, and Fire Prevention and Safety programs and to purchase new fire equipment.

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