Homeland Security has grants available to assist first responders

The United States Department of Homeland Security announced recently that the application period for (FY) 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG).

Applications began being accepted Monday, March 3. The deadline for submission is Friday, April 4. Grants will award $500 million to fire departments throughout the nation and will be distributed in phases throughout FY 2008. California's award will depend on the number of applications received.

The primary goal of the AFG is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. The Grant Programs Directorate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency administers the grants in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

Eligible applicants for the FY 2008 AFG are limited to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Two separate applications by fire and agencies may be submitted in the following areas:

• Operations and Safety Program Area: The grants for fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations are limited to training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to facilities.

• Vehicle Acquisition Program Area: Grants to fire departments under this program area include, but are not limited to apparatus including pumpers, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, aerials, foam units and fireboats.

For more information, please call (866) 274-0960, e-mail firegrants@dhs.gov or visit www.firegrantsupport.com, www.usfa.fema.gov or www. grants.gov.