“Our rural communities rely heavily on their fire departments and it’s imperative that we ensure they have the necessary equipment and tools 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 Strong will have the peace of mind that their fire department has the resources to keep them safe.”

“As first responders, our local firefighters play an integral role in keeping our communities safe,” Lincoln said. “With these federal dollars, the Strong Fire Department will be able to purchase new equipment that will help them provide the best possible service to the citizens of their community.”

“Our firefighters put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and it's important that we provide them with equipment they need to protect themselves and our communities,” said Pryor. “These grants will go a long way to help ensure that Arkansans lives and property are out of harm's way.”

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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