U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, today announced that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded $594,798 in grant funding for four Maine fire departments. The funding is provided through the “Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program,” or FIRE Act.
“The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is an extremely critical source of funds for Maine’s fire and rescue personnel,” noted Senator Collins. “This grant will help provide our critical first responders with the equipment and training that they need to better serve their communities.”
Funding will be distributed as follows:
• Gardiner Fire Department will receive $145,160
• Gouldsboro Fire Department will receive $194,988
• Sedgwick Volunteer Fire Department will receive $202,873
Each of the above departments will be awarded funding through the Vehicle Acquisition program, which helps local departments purchase equipment such as pumpers, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.
Additonally, the Detroit Volunteer Fire Department will receive $51,777 through the Operations and Firefighting Safety Program, which consists of training, equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to the departments’ facilities.
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.
###