Rep. Harris Announces over $1.3 Million in Grants to Firefighters

November 5, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced over $1.3 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to local fire departments in the First Congressional District. The grants were awarded through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grant Program (SAFER).

According to FEMA, "the primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards." Additionally, "The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association."

Specific grant allocations are listed below:

Assistance to Firefighters Grants

Water Witch Fire Company (Cecil County); $407,142.85
Queenstown Volunteer Fire Company (Queen Anne's County); $169,809.52
Denton Volunteer Fire Company (Caroline County); $228,928.57
Crisfield Fire Department (Somerset County); $200,000
Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company (Harford County); $49,749.09

Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants

United Communities Volunteer Fire Department (Queen Anne's County); $335,000

Congressman Harris made the following statement:

"As a physician, I particularly appreciate the emergency services provided by our local first responders. These men and women save lives, and as a member of the Appropriations Committee I understand the need to support emergency personnel in our local communities. These grants have my full support."

For media inquiries, please contact Congressman Harris' Washington, DC office at 202-225-5311, or contact John Dutton at John.Dutton@mail.house.gov.

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