Senator Mikulski Announces $4.6 Million in Federal Funding to Support and Protect Firefighters in Maryland

Funding will provide life-saving equipment for firefighters in Baltimore County and will aid volunteer recruitment and retention efforts in communities throughout Maryland
 
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski today joined Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz,Baltimore County Fire Chief John Hohman and state and local first responders at the Rosedale Volunteer Fire Company to announce two federal grants totaling $4.6 million that will address equipment and staffing needs for first responders in Baltimore County and throughout Maryland. As the Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal funding for the fire grants program.

"I know how important this funding is to Maryland communities – often it's the difference between life and death. First responders protect our homes and communities, and the federal government has a responsibility to protect them by providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs safer and smarter," Senator Mikulski said. "Every day when our first responders report for duty, they don't know what they will face. That's why I fight every year for the equipment, training, and staffing our protectors and communities deserve."

"Thanks to Senator Mikulski's unwavering support, we are here today with yet another positive example of the power of collaboration and partnership among all levels of government, as well as between our career and volunteer fire service personnel," said County Executive Kevin Kamenetz.

"This grant will help us provide our career and volunteer responders with the most up-to-date self-contained breathing apparatus," Chief Hohman said. "This is essential equipment, allowing our responders to stay safe while fighting fires and providing life-saving service to our citizens. Our department is most grateful for this valuable assistance from our federal partners."

The Baltimore County Fire Department will receive a $2,343,600 grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). The Baltimore County Fire Department will use the grant to purchase 372 sets of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). SCBAs enable firefighters to breathe in smoke-filled environments to keep firefighters safe in the line of duty. The new equipment will replace equipment that is not compliant with the standards set forth by the National Fire Protection Association.

AFG grants fund firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment, training, firefighting vehicles, firefighter/first responder safety projects, and staffing recruitment and retention, as well as public fire safety education.

The Maryland State Firemen's Association in partnership with the Maryland Fire Chiefs Association will receive a $2,250,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Program (SAFER). The grant will be used to conduct a four year, statewide recruiting and training program for all of Maryland's 368 volunteer fire departments. The program will enable communities to target their specific needs in recruitment campaigns, and will feature a statewide recruitment and training coordinator as well as scholarship funds for volunteers to attend college in exchange for their service.

SAFER grants enhance the ability of grantees to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing. The objective of the program is to award grants directly to volunteer, combination, and career fire departments to help the departments increase the number of frontline firefighters, and to rehire firefighters who were laid off due to the economy.

Senator Mikulski helped create the AFG and SAFER programs in 2001, recognizing the importance of federal assistance as both urban and rural communities struggled to meet basic response needs. Since then, Maryland fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) units have received over $142 million in fire grant funding.