July 5, 2004—Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge recently announced the first round of grants to fire departments throughout the United States in the Fiscal Year 2004 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
The grants will ultimately total approximately 8,000 awards worth nearly $750 million in direct assistance to firefighters throughout the country, ensuring that America’s firefighters have the resources they need to protect their communities.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program helps local fire departments purchase firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire education and prevention programs. The grants are administered by the Department’s Office for Domestic Preparedness in cooperation with the Department’s United States Fire Administration.
