SAFER Application Periods Ends June 30

June 19, 2005 – Time is running out on the application period for the Assistance to Firefighters Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 30, 2006. SAFER is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Grants and Training in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

As of June 16, 2006, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program office has received fewer than 10 percent of the 1,621 applications started. This compares to 3,462 that had been started to this point in the 2005 application period. The IAFF urges its affiliates to encourage their fire departments and fire chiefs to apply for these grants. With more than two-thirds of the nation’s fire departments understaffed, SAFER grants provide critical funding for the hiring of fire personnel.

DHS has posted Program Guidance [http://www.firegrantsupport.com/] and other materials for the 2006 SAFER grant program for applicants interested in details regarding eligibility and priorities of the two activities that will be funded under the program, including the Hiring of Firefighters Activity. The IAFF has also developed a new online job aid [http://www.firegrantsupport.com/] to assist members in the SAFER application process, and provides critical information to IAFF union leaders about the SAFER grant program.

The AFG program office offers three grant opportunities in each year. AFG "fire grant" funds are used by the nation's fire fighters and first responders to increase the effectiveness of fire fighting and emergency response operations. The application period for these grants ended in March, and decisions on received applications will be made soon. In addition to the SAFER grant opportunity, the AFG program office will open an application period for Fire Prevention and Safety grants in September 2006.

Through the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2006, Congress provided $648 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants, with $108 million of the funding specified for SAFER grants and a minimum of $27 million for the Fire Prevention and Safety grants.

It is imperative that your fire department submit a request. Unless the fire service demonstrates through a large volume of grant applications that staffing is a top priority, it will be impossible to secure additional funding for SAFER. Larger jurisdictions that are high risk targets must submit applications to highlight staffing deficiencies.

Applications are available at http://www.firegrantsupport.com. Fire departments can also contact the Fire Grants Help Desk at 1 (866) 274-0960 or email firegrants@dhs.gov.