Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) announced today that the Point Blank Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) was awarded a $20,000 SAFER grant. This grant is awarded under the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, and is the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) award of the AFG program. Funds under the SAFER program are intended to support the hiring of firefighters and the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. 

 “Federal grants like this one make it possible for the Point Blank Volunteer Fire Department to hire and train the firefighters it needs to respond to emergencies.  Collaboration of this nature is a great way for Washington and communities like Point Blank to join together and support our first responders,” said Brady.

The goal of the SAFER grant is to enhance the ability of fire departments to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing and to assure that their communities have sufficient protection from fire-related hazards. It will also allow them to create a more favorable working environment for volunteer firefighters, so they may better serve their community; enabling current volunteers to remain involved, and future volunteers to feel encouraged to join. 

In Fiscal Year 2007, the DHS will award approximately $115 million directly to fire departments and volunteer interest groups to expand the number of firefighters available to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and all other hazards.