FEMA Provides $400,261 in Grant Funding to Oregon Fire Departments

Agencies receiving funds were Ashland Fire & Rescue, the Boring Fire District, Halsey-Shedd Rural Fire Protection District and the Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District.

Salem-News.com file photo

(SEATTLE) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $400,261 in Assistance-to-Firefighters Grants (AFGs) to four fire departments and emergency medical service organizations in Oregon.

Nationally, the fiscal year (FY) 2007 AFG awards, which will be distributed in phases, will ultimately provide over $490 million to fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations throughout the country.

"These Assistance to Firefighters grants represent a major effort by the federal government to ensure the nation’s firefighters continue to have the basic capability they require to do their jobs, improve safety and save lives," said Greg Cade, United States Fire Administrator.

This week’s round of national fire grants amounts to over $20.5 million and includes grants to the following departments and organizations:

• Ashland Fire & Rescue
  Operations and Safety $30,015.00
• Boring Fire District
  Operations and Safety $288,000.00
• Halsey-Shedd Rural Fire Protection District
  Operations and Safety $67,996.00
• Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District
  Operations and Safety $14,250.00

AFG awards aim to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and other hazards.

The grants enable local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs, and buy equipment and response vehicles.

AFG also supports regional projects in which multiple organizations serving more than one local jurisdiction benefit directly from activities implemented with grant funds.

Since FY 2001, and including FY 2007, over $3.3 billion in AFG funding has been distributed to fire departments and first responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, vehicles and fire prevention activities.

AFG is administered cooperatively by two FEMA components: the National Preparedness Directorate and the United States Fire Administration.

The full list of FY 2007 AFG recipients and other information is posted on the AFG website: firegrantsupport.com.

FEMA is responsible for coordianting the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.