U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, today announced that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded $210,850 in grant funding for the Berwick Fire Department. The funding is provided through the “Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program,” or FIRE Act. The funding will come from the SAFER Grant Program which aims to provide grant funding to departments to help attain and maintain 24-hour staffing and to assure that their communities have adequate protection.
“The SAFER Grant Program is a critical source of funding for Maine’s fire departments,” noted Senator Collins. “This grant will help provide our first responders in Berwick with the personnel and staff that they need to better serve their community 24 hours a day.”
Senator Collins strongly supported the creation of the FIRE Act Grant program. 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.