By Jessie Forand
OAKLAND, Calif. — Funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) has put more than $12 billion into local fire departments and EMS agencies over the last two decades, with $1.1 billion going to FEMA Region 9 recipients in California, Arizona and Nevada.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this June, the federal agency announced that in its last giving cycle it provided 2,500 fire departments, fire districts, non-affiliated EMS organizations and state fire training academies with grants.
Highlights from the FEMA Region 9 recipients include:
- Money to help the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians in California pay a grant writer, who was able to secure an award for vehicle extrication equipment purchases.
- Funding that allowed the North Las Vegas Fire Department to buy portable defibrillation and monitoring technology, allowing responders to provide high-quality CPR, defibrillation and pacing treatment and manage essential data.
- Enabling Arizona’s Northwest Fire District to purchase two-way radios for clear, secure communications during emergencies.
The assistance program was authorized by Congress to provide federal dollars to local departments and agencies. Its mission is to help firefighters and first responders obtain the equipment, training and other resources necessary to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. Learn more about grant opportunities on the FEMA website.