WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced last week that the Limestone Fire Department was one of three to receive funds through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.
The department will receive a $120,000 operations and safety grant which, according to its Facebook page, will help purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus units for firefighters, to replace aging equipment.
Also awarded were the Gardiner Fire Department, which will receive a $333,334 vehicle acquisition grant, and the Scarborough Fire Department, which will receive a $118,547 regional request grant.
“Fire departments across Maine work hard every day to protect the communities they serve, and they need adequate resources and training to do their important jobs,” said Collins and King in a joint statement.
“The AFG program continues to be an invaluable source of support for our firefighters and emergency responders, and we are thrilled that the Gardiner, Limestone, and Scarborough Fire Departments have been awarded this funding. These AFG grants are investments in the health and safety of Maine communities.”
The AFG program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The program was created to help provide funds for fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical services organizations so that they can purchase equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources to better protect the public and emergency personnel.
