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The Southwest Times
http://www.southwesttimes.com//news.php?id=1041
Thursday, November 15, 2007
By Jena
Hardy
PULASKI —
Pulaski Fire Department is among six Virginia
fire departments to receive funds in the latest round of Assistance to
Firefighters Grants (AFG) awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Pulaski Fire Department will receive
$156,750 to use for operations and safety. A total of $684,785 was awarded to
departments in Virginia
during the most recent round, with Pulaski’s award being the second largest in
the state.
The highest amount, $237,500 was awarded
to Washington Volunteer Fire and Rescue at Washington for vehicle acquisition. Other
departments receiving funds were from Lynchburg
($156,528), Raphine ($63,555), Coeburn ($48,450) and Chilhowie ($22,002).
Nationally $15,390,153 was awarded to
fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical services organizations
throughout FEMA’s ten regional locations in this latest round of grants.
AFG awards aim to enhance response
capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the
public with respect to fire and other hazards. The grants enable fire
departments and emergency medical services organizations to fund training,
conduct first responder health and safety programs, and buy equipment and
response vehicles.
AFG also supports regional projects in
which multiple organizations serving more than one local jurisdiction benefit
directly from activities implemented with grant funds.
Since the 2001 Fiscal Year, and including
the 2007 awards, over $3.3 billion in AFG funding has been distributed to fire
departments and first responder organizations to purchase response equipment,
personal protective equipment, vehicles and fire prevention activities. AFG is
administered cooperatively by two FEMA components: the National Preparedness
Directorate and the United States Fire Administration.
Other Virginia departments receiving
AFG’s throughout this year included, Narrows Fire Department, $87,457;
Washington County Fire and Rescue #1 Inc. of Bristol, $94,126;Elk Creek
Volunteer Fire Department, $54,720; Vinton First Aid Crew, $22,800; and Rural
Retreat Volunteer Fire Department, $39,497.
FEMA coordinates the federal government’s
role in preparing for, preventing or mitigating the effects of, responding to,
and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made,
including acts of terror.
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