News Release
Public Safety
Matt Blunt, Governor
Mark James, Director


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


For more information, please contact:
Terri Durdaller
Communication Director
Work:(573) 751-4819
Cell: (573) 301-2023

   
Blunt Announces Fire Departments Receive Homeland Security Grants

JEFFERSON CITY, Nov. 4, 2005-Missouri’s local fire departments will now be better equipped to respond to disasters thanks to Gov. Matt Blunt. Today Missouri was awarded over $1.3 million for 14 Missouri fire departments. The grants represent the 8th and 9th round of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Domestic Preparedness Assistance to Firefighters Grant Awards, awarded on a weekly basis.

Director Mark James of the Department of Public Safety said the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program assists local fire departments in purchasing firefighting equipment, funding firefighter health and safety programs, enhancing emergency medical services programs, and conducting fire education and prevention programs.

“Firefighter Grant Awards from the Department of Homeland Security allow our local fire and emergency response teams to be outfitted with the equipment and vehicles they need to adequately protect and serve Missourians,” James said.

Missouri Fire Departments receiving grants to purchase equipment through the Operations and Safety program are: City of Ava VFD ($26,477), Cape Girardeau FD ($150,950), Cross Timbers RFD ($23,940), Dexter FD ($170,668), Jackson Township FPD ($35,435), Lawson F&R FPD ($119,679), Lotawana FPD ($47,391), Macon Rural FPD ($87,923), Mountain View FD ($56,050), Perryville FD ($90,013), Seneca VFD ($73,540), Southern Stone County FPD ($351,531), Vienna VFPD ($88,654), and Webster Groves FD ($27,900).

To date, 116 Missouri Fire Departments have received $11,883,716 for the 2005 Assistance to Firefighter Grants program, which began Aug. 19, 2005.

For more information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, please contact Terri Durdaller at (573) 751-4819.


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