Only 10 Days Remain to Apply for FIRE Act Grants

April 25, 2007 -- The IAFF is reminding its affiliates and their fire departments that deadline for applications for the 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program is May 4, 2007. Fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical organizations are eligible to receive these grants using new criteria – which should benefit many of the fire departments represented by IAFF locals – that give a higher level of consideration to departments with a high call volume and to departments that protect large populations.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program awards grants, commonly known as FIRE Act grants, are awarded directly to fire departments to obtain equipment, protective gear, and emergency vehicles and to offer training. For 2007, Congress appropriated $547 million for FIRE Act grants.

In addition, instead of allowing fire departments to apply for only one grant, this year, fire departments can submit applications for each of the program areas, as well as an additional application for a regional project. Departments that serve urban and suburban communities will be permitted to request multiple vehicles, while rural departments will be restricted to one vehicle per application. Finally, DHS has lifted the restriction that precluded previous vehicle awardees from receiving a subsequent vehicle award, allowing previous Fire Act grant vehicle awardees to receive a 2007 vehicle award.

The IAFF urges its affiliates to encourage their fire departments and fire chiefs to apply for these grants. “The new grant guidelines are extremely beneficial to professional fire departments, and will permit certain departments whose previous applications may have been rejected a new bite at the apple,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “A strong response from professional fire departments will demonstrate our enthusiasm for the new grant guidelines and help ensure their maintenance in future grant cycles.”

DHS has posted program guidance and application materials for the 2007 FIRE Act grant program for applicants at: www.firegrantsupport.com/afg. Fire departments can also contact the FIRE Act grants Help Desk at 1 (866) 274-0960 or firegrants@dhs.gov.