# You'd Be Surprised How Simple It Is for Your Fire Department To Get Grant Money

If you need a grant, it's easier than you think, and help is available every step of the way.

**Posted: March 2, 2023**

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Perhaps you've considered applying for a grant but thought the process is too complicated, your operation is too small or the amount of money is too minimal to make a big enough impact.

U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fire Program Specialist Abby Christian can show you how none of those concerns should get in the way of using grants to better serve your community and train and protect your firefighters.
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Send me an email at abigail.christian@fema.dhs.gov, and I'll show you what you need to know.

For example, in fiscal year 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency made 2,200 awards totaling $710 million to volunteer and career fire departments, state fire training academies, and emergency medical services (EMS) organizations. These grants were used to 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.

## Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFGs)

These grants fund critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel, enhance efficiencies and support community resilience.

### AFGs can be used for items such as:

                - Equipment.
                - Protective gear.
                - Emergency vehicles.
                - Facility modification.
                - Training.

### AFG success story

Before receiving an AFG, only 4% of Lee County (South Carolina) firefighters had their own self-contained breathing apparatus. Now, all the volunteers are equipped with their own facepieces. Other critical purchases with the grant included spare cylinders, personal alert safety system services and encapsulated, Level A hazmat suits.

## Staffing for Adequate Fire and Safety Response (SAFER) grants

SAFER grants fund salary and benefits for new paid firefighters and help recruit and retain volunteer firefighters. SAFER grants work to build capacity and capabilities in their communities.

### SAFER grants can be used for items such as:

                - Salary and benefits for new and full-time firefighters.
                - Recruitment and retention activities to include training, incentives and stipends for volunteers, and mental health campaigns.

### SAFER success story

With a SAFER grant, the 4-station Cedar Hill (Texas) Fire Department hired 12 new firefighters. These hires moved the department from being 40% compliant on structure fires to 60% compliant and supported plans to steadily increase staff to reach full compliance.

## Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants

FP&S grants are part of the AFG's support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards, with a focus on reducing injury and preventing death among high-risk populations.

### FP&S grant activities in 2021 included:

                - Fire prevention education and training.
                - Fire code enforcement.
                - Fire/arson investigation.
                - Firefighter safety and health programming.
                - Prevention efforts.
                - Firefighter safety research and development.

### FP&S success story

With an FP&S grant, the Galesburg (Illinois) Fire Department purchased 3,300 smoke alarms with 10-year lithium-ion batteries. The grant also included smoke alarm installation and education. Recently, one of these alarms helped 7 people (aged 2 months to 70 years old) escape a potentially deadly house fire.

You can follow fema.gov/firegrants/ to learn when the fiscal year 2022 application periods for these grants will open.

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This is your year to get a grant to fund critically needed resources for your fire department or nonaffiliated EMS organization to equip and train emergency personnel, enhance efficiencies, and support community resilience. Let me show you how a grant is within your reach. Email me today at: abigail.christian@fema.dhs.gov.