Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is extending the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) application period for one additional week, until September 23, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. EDT.

The extension is due to the amount of attention FEMA needed to pay to recent natural disasters which took place in the eastern U.S. 

“I am pleased FEMA extended the deadline and will enable more fire companies and municipalities to apply for this grant.  Disasters such as Hurricane Irene show that the federal government, and all of the resources which come with it, are vital to help people when they are in their greatest need.  Our local first responders also work hand in hand with the federal government.  Neither should ever be taken hostage in a manufactured political flight, and yet that is what has happened in recent months.  Protecting our communities and responding to disasters should be immune to politics.  I am committed to providing assistance to those in need.

The grants are awarded to fire departments to enhance their ability to protect the public and fire service personnel from fire related hazards.  The primary goal of the AFG is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations.

Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

The AFG Program Help Desk is ready to assist with any questions applicants may have and can be reached by calling 1-866-274-0960 or by email atfiregrants@dhs.gov.

###