SNOWE AND COLLINS ANNOUNCE NEARLY $600,000 IN GRANTS FOR FIRE SAFETY IN MAINE

WASHINGTON, DC – Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins announced today that four fire departments in Maine will receive a total of $593,334 in FIRE Act Grants from the Department of Homeland Security, through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

"This funding will allow fire departments to update their equipment and training to keep up with the continuing demands of their communities and homeland security," said the Senators in a joint statement. "These grants are vital to fire departments in Maine, allowing them to preserve the safety of their firefighters and the public they serve."

FIRE Act Grants were created with strong endorsement from Senators Snowe and Collins. The 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 apparatus.

Senators Snowe and Collins today announced the following grants:

· $129,150 to Westbrook Fire and Rescue Department for operations and firefighter safety · $124,884 to Peru Fire Department for operations and firefighter safety · $173,700 to Fort Kent Fire Department for a firefighting vehicle · $165,600 to St. Francis Fire Department for a firefighting vehicle

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