The McCaskill Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $166,250 to help purchase a new vehicle to assist the department. The Hatfield Fire and Rescue Department has been awarded $41,491 and the Norphlet Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $10,355 to help the departments enhance current operations and improve firefighter safety.

“Our rural communities rely heavily on their volunteer fire departments and I am proud to help ensure that they have the necessary equipment and resources to fight fires,” Ross said. “I am pleased to join with my colleagues today to announce these federal funds so that the families and residents of these communities will know that their fire departments have the resources to keep them safe.”

“As first responders, our local firefighters play an integral role in keeping our communities safe,” Lincoln said. “These federals dollars will help our fire departments provide necessary equipment and training to those in the line of duty so that they can continue to provide the best possible service to the citizens of their communities.”

“I’m pleased to see taxpayer dollars invested back into the community through vital resources that protect families and homes,” said Pryor. “These funds will also go a long way to improve current operations and ensure our firefighters are safe in the line of duty,”

The purpose of the grant program is to provide first responders with additional training and equipment which will enhance their abilities to protect the health and safety of the public and protect firefighters from job-related hazards. The DHS Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness administers the grant program in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program has been providing funding to fire departments and other first responders since 2001. To date, a total of $2.2 billion in grants through the AFG program has been awarded to first-responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, and vehicles.

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