Kansas fire departments awarded federal grants

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced another round of FY06 Assistance to Firefighters Grants.  In Kansas, the Sawyer Rural Fire Department, St. George Township-City Fire Department, Johnson County Med-Act, and Burrton City Fire Department were among those selected nationwide.  The Sawyer Rural Fire Department in Pratt County will receive $272,175; the St. George Township-City Fire Department in Pottawatomie County will receive $78,888; the Johnson County Med-Act will receive 79,400; and the Burrton City Fire Department in Harvey County will receive $195,700.

“I am pleased that a Kansas town is to be given this support from Washington,” said Governor Sebelius.  “I am grateful for the firefighters and emergency personnel who work to keep Kansas communities safe each and every day. And I congratulate the members of our Congressional delegation who steered these essential resources back to Kansas where they will be put to good use.”

These grants are administered by the Homeland Security Department’s Office for Domestic Preparedness in cooperation with the United States Fire Administration. 

The grants for the St. George Township-City Fire Department and Johnson County Med-Act were awarded in the Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety category, which includes training, wellness and fitness, firefighting equipment and modifications to fire stations and facilities. 
The grants for the Sawyer Rural Fire Department and Burrton City Fire Department were awarded in the Firefighting Vehicles Acquisition category which provides money earmarked for the purchase of firefighting vehicles, including pumpers, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.

The Department of Homeland Security received more than 18,172 applications for the programs, selecting only those able to articulate the benefits to be derived from the grant funds.  For more information about the grant program, visit http://www.firegrantsupport.com/afg/faq/06.

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