WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that Maine's first responders can apply for Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program funds from Monday, November 4, 2013 at 8:00 AM until Friday, December 6, 2013 at 5:00 PM. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency administers the grants.

These grants help fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations meet their firefighting and emergency response needs. The AFG Program helps equip these organizations with the resources necessary to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and their emergency response personnel with respect to fire and other hazards.

“The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides a vital source of funding for our brave career and volunteer firefighters,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “These grants help Maine's first responders preserve lives and protect property by enabling departments to obtain vehicles, purchase life-saving equipment, and access training to develop the skills necessary to better serve their communities.”

Grant guidance for this program is available at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants/. FEMA's AFG help desk can be reached at (866) 274-0960, or by email at firegrants@dhs.gov. For additional information please contact Senator Susan Collins’ Augusta Constituent Service Center at (207) 622-8414 or Senator Angus King’s Augusta office at (207) 622-8292.

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