FEMA Provides $21 Million to Fire Departments in Latest Round of Fire Grants

Lincoln Receives Funds

[December 21, 2007]  CHICAGO -- Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded $1,206,258 in Assistance to Firefighters Grant funding to local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations in the state of Illinois. Nationally, the fiscal 2007 grant awards, which will be distributed in phases, will ultimately provide over $490 million to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations throughout the country.

"This latest round of grants will continue to support fire departments throughout the United States," said U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade. "We look forward to working with all fire departments to make sure this holiday and heating season is a safe one for all."

This week's round of national fire grants amounts to just over $21 million and includes grants to the following fire departments and emergency medical services organizations in Illinois:

Fiscal 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant awards

Dixmoor	Operations and safety	$17,334
Wonder Lake	Operations and safety	$441,559
Channahon	Operations and safety	$184,129
Neoga	Operations and safety	$29,499
Galesburg	Operations and safety	$7,695
Bluffs	Vehicle acquisition	$205,096
Lincoln	Operations and safety	$122,170
Warrensburg	Operations and safety	$47,500
Wyoming	Operations and safety	$91,996
Edgewood	Operations and safety	$59,280

Assistance to Firefighters Grant awards aim to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and other hazards. The grants enable local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs, and buy equipment and response vehicles. The grants also support regional projects in which multiple organizations serving more than one local jurisdiction benefit directly from activities implemented with grant funds.

Since fiscal 2001, and including fiscal 2007, over $3.3 billion in Assistance to Firefighters Grant funding has been distributed to fire departments and first responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment and vehicles and for fire prevention activities. The grants are administered cooperatively by two FEMA components: the National Preparedness Directorate and the United States Fire Administration.

The full list of fiscal 2007 grant recipients and other information is posted at www.firegrantsupport.com.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

[Text from file received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency]