Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) announced more than $3 million in federal funding for Maine fire departments. Fire departments in Falmouth, Kennebunk, Jefferson, and at the Maine State Fire Academy in South Portland will receive a total of $668,604.14 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). The town of Kennebunk was also awarded more than $2.6 million to hire eight new firefighters through FEMA’s Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. 

“This additional funding issued by FEMA will help keep our brave first responders safe. Funding like this is crucial for town departments and the State Fire Academy to hire, train, and strengthen prospective firefighters so they’re prepared to protect and serve our communities when the alarm sounds,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “Every year, I’ve fought to increase funding for these vital programs as a member of the House Appropriations Committee because I know just how critical this funding is to the safety of our first responders and the municipalities they serve.”

This is the eighth round of funding through FEMA’s AFG program. Last week, Buxton, Nobleboro, and Portland were awarded a total of $645,670 in funding through the program in the seventh round of funding. 

The AFG program assists first-responder organizations in obtaining emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, emergency vehicles, and training. Details of the grants are as follows:

• Falmouth, ME: Falmouth Fire-EMS Department—$315,622.86 for a Firefighter Breathing Apparatus and an Air Compressor System
• Kennebunk, ME: Kennebunk Fire & Rescue Department—$20,262.86 for Vehicle Extrication Equipment
• Jefferson, ME: Jefferson Fire & Rescue Department—$85,761.90 for Mobile Radios, Portable Radios and Pagers
• Maine State Fire Academy, South Portland, ME: State Fire Training Academy—$246,956.52 for Fire Instructor Training, Training Props, and an Air Compressor System

In this fiscal year, FEMA’s SAFER grant program will award $355 million to an estimated 300 eligible fire departments and volunteer fire organizations nationwide. In the fourth round of funding, the town of Kennebunk was awarded $2,635,736.56 to hire eight new full-time firefighters.