SNOWE, COLLINS ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $350,000 FOR MAINE FIRE DEPARTMENTS

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security is awarding a total of $350,100 in federal funding to two Maine fire departments. The awards are part of the "Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program," or the FIRE Act. The grants will aid each department through the Firefighting Vehicles Acquisition Program.

"It is critical for our Maine fire departments to receive adequate equipment in order to safely respond to emergencies," Senators Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. "These grants will truly benefit each of the fire departments." The following departments will receive federal funding: • $152,100 to the Mt Chase Volunteer Fire Department • $198,000 to the Calais Fire Department

The funds for each of the fire departments will be used for Firefighting Vehicles Acquisition Program, which includes pumpers, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.

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