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The FIRE and
SAFER grant programs have provided billions of dollars to
strengthen the ability of local fire departments to protect the
public safety and respond to all hazards. A study by the U.S.
Fire Administration revealed that the FIRE Act has resulted in
important enhancements in local fire protection, including
increased and improved equipment and training. Additionally, the
SAFER grant program has enabled local fire departments to hire
over 3300 new fire fighters.
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The FIRE Grant
program is also among the most efficient grant programs, having
been scored as “effective” by an Office of Management and Budget
analysis.
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Although only
$775 million was available to make awards in 2009, local
communities applied for nearly four billion dollars in FIRE and
SAFER grants to provide necessary training, purchase protective
equipment, increase the number of fire fighters on the job and
fulfill other fire service needs.
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Despite the
success of the programs, improvements are needed to ensure that
federal funding is spent in a way that maximizes the benefit to
public safety and that grants are distributed more equitably
among fire departments.
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Under the
current FIRE grant allocation system, the overwhelming majority
of funds are awarded to fire departments that protect areas with
relatively small populations. Since 2002, nearly two-thirds of
funds have been awarded to rural departments, while only twelve
percent of funds have been awarded to fire departments that
protect metropolitan areas.
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The SAFER grant
program also contains a number of administrative restrictions,
including a high local match and the need for municipalities to
budget five years into the future, that preclude many fire
departments from taking advantage of the program.
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By restricting
the ability of many communities to receive a grant under FIRE
and SAFER, current law undermines the programs’ mission to
enhance the safety of fire fighters and the public nationwide.
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Although
legislation passed by Congress in 2009 includes a waiver of the
local match and other restrictions for SAFER grants made in FY09
and FY10, these waivers are temporary, and do not fully address
the restrictions that preclude many departments from taking full
advantage of SAFER.
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The current
economic crisis has led many communities to cut their fire
department budgets, lay off fire fighters and reduce services,
making funding through FIRE and SAFER more important than ever.
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Given the clear
need for additional resources and the current uneven
distribution of grants, reauthorizing and making significant
improvements to FIRE and SAFER is necessary to fulfill the
programs’ initial intent and ensure that funds are used as
effectively as possible.
