Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) has awarded five projects in Maine’s 1^st Congressional District with a total of $813,760.85 funding. The AFG program assists first-responder organizations in obtaining emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, emergency vehicles, and training. The funding is awarded directly to fire departments, EMS organization, and state fire training academies.

“In order to protect our local communities every day, Maine firefighters need the proper training and equipment,” said Pingree. “A well-equipped force helps keep our cities and towns safe—that’s why I’ve fought repeatedly to support increased funding for this grant program through my seat on the Appropriations Committee. It’s great to see this investment in our state’s emergency services, which will go far to support our first responders.”

The details of the grants are below:

• Town of Windham: $60,952.38 for operations and safety, which will go towards installing an automatic sprinkler system in a station that does not have a system yet.
• City of Waterville: $229,333.33 for operations and safety, which will go towards replacing 20-year-old air packs (self-contained breathing apparatus).
• Town of Casco: $125,714.28 for four automatic loaders for their ambulances.  
• Town of Gorham: $304,780.
• Maine Community College System: $92,980.86 for equipment, including forcible entry doors, hazardous materials training equipment, and a training trailer for pump operation. 

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