More than $1.2M in federal funds to aid Arizona firefighters

Over $1.2 million in federal assistance grants has been earmarked for Arizona firefighters in Jerome, Marana, Payson, Pinetop, Phoenix, and Prescott.

The funding was awarded through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG), which awards grants directly to fire departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations, and state fire training academies to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel.

“Arizona’s firefighters repeatedly put their lives on the line to protect our communities,” Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) said. “These grants will ensure they have the resources, equipment, and training they need to continue the work they do day in and day out.”

Phoenix Fire Chief Kara Kalkbrenner said the Assistance to Firefighters Grants are critical to the fire service.

“This funding will provide much-needed emergency response training, along with supportive equipment and programs dedicated to keeping our members safe and healthy,” she said regarding the $407,062.60 the department is slated to receive.
“AFG allows us to purchase equipment to rehabilitate injured firefighters and to deliver crucial peer support training to members who serve our firefighters in need of support after critical incidents.”

The Avra Valley Fire District will receive $496,451.42.

“It is no exaggeration to say that the equipment that this AFG grant will provide will save lives,” Avra Valley Fire District Chief Brian Delfs said. “Our fire district has such limited resources that there are literally no other ways we could have purchased these dual-band, intrinsically safe radios for the safety of our firefighters or purchased the cardiac monitors needed to perform advanced cardiac care for our patients. Our current equipment is archaic and no longer meets national standards.”