Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced three Maine fire departments in the First Congressional District will receive more than $150,000 in the second round of Fiscal Year 2021 grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). In this round of funding, the AFG Program is awarding more than $52.6 million to 296 eligible fire departments and first responder organizations nationwide.

“Every day, Maine firefighters put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant is a profoundly important program that protects these brave heroes. Whether for equipment, maintenance, or training, this federal funding is vital to ensuring our firefighters are prepared and protected,” said Pingree. “That’s why as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have fought to increase funding for this program every year.” 

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:

• South Portland, ME: Maine Fire Service Institute—$108,608 for firefighter turnout gear, portable radios, and training props and equipment
• Casco, ME: Casco Fire-Rescue Department—$14,361 to fit test firefighter breathing apparatus facepieces
• Boothbay Harbor, ME: Boothbay Harbor Fire Department—$30,000 for a vehicle exhaust removal system

In the first round of funding for FY2021 announced last August, Scarborough, Old Orchard Beach, Casco, and West Gardiner fire departments received a total of $502,878 through the AFG program. As of August 19, 2022, FEMA has made 2,496 awards totaling $762.6 million.

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