In a bid to protect firefighters from fire-related hazards, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened applications for the 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program this week, dangling $324 million for safety measures.
“As a former firefighter, I know the hazards and risks communities, fire departments and firefighters face, especially those that are under-resourced,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program continues to have a meaningful impact on our nation’s first responders and the communities that they serve, and this new round of funding can be crucial to a local fire department’s ability to acquire needed protective gear, equipment, training, or other assets to effectively protect lives and property. I encourage more communities across the nation to seize this opportunity to better protect the public and the first responders who serve them.”
These grants are open to federal, state, local, Tribal and territorial applicants. They can help firefighters purchase equipment, undergo health screenings, train personnel and more. Since 2001, AFG grants have doled out approximately $8.4 billion for critically needed resources.
According to FEMA, nearly 2,300 home fires brought deaths in 2023. Of those, 85 were firefighters sent to suppress them.
Grant funding will offer direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments, non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations and state fire training academies. After opening on Jan. 22, 2024, applications will remain open until March 8, 2024.