“Our rural communities rely heavily on their fire departments and it is imperative that we ensure they have the necessary equipment and resources to do their jobs adequately and safely,” Ross said. “I am proud to join with my colleagues today to announce these funds so that the families and residents of Donaldson will know that their fire department has the necessary resources to keep them safe.”

“As first responders, our local firefighters play a critical role in keeping citizens safe,” Lincoln said. “I applaud the Ouachita Fire Department for seeking out available resources to continue to provide the best possible service for the community.”

“This new vehicle will make a real difference to the Ouachita Fire Department and the families it serves,” Pryor said. “I will continue to be a strong advocate for this grant program. It's clearly listening to local officials' needs and making important investments to address the needs of our first responders.”

The purpose of the grant program is to provide first responders with additional training and equipment which will enhance their abilities to protect the health and safety of the public and protect firefighters from job-related hazards. The DHS Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness administers the grant program in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program has been providing funding to fire departments and other first responders since 2001. To date, a total of $2.2 billion in grants through the AFG program has been awarded to first-responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, and vehicles.

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