WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced $91.8 million in direct assistance grants to 860 fire departments and first responder organizations through the department’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. Additional phases will soon be announced that will total $485 million in FY06 AFG awards to nearly 5,000 fire-related organizations nationwide.
Since 2001, the AFG has provided $2.4 billion in grants to fire departments and first responder organizations for response equipment, personal protective equipment, vehicles, and fire prevention activities. DHS received more than 18,000 applications for nearly $2.5 billion in grant requests in FY06.
“Firefighters are among those on the front lines of our homeland security,” said Under Secretary for Preparedness George Foresman. “This program gets critically important resources for equipment and training to America’s first responders and supports their continued service to our country.”
The AFG program awards grants to firefighters, emergency response personnel and first responders throughout the nation to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of first responders and the citizens in their communities. AFG grants provide resources for training, first responder health and safety programs, and response equipment and vehicles.
The AFG is administered by the department’s Directorate for Preparedness through its Office of Grants and Training, in cooperation with the United States Fire Administration, also within the Preparedness Directorate.
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DHS press release
