Collins announces first responder grants

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Susan Collins recently announced that there is still time for Maine's first responders to apply for Fiscal Year 2012 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program funds. The application deadline is August 10, at 5 p.m. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the grants. These grants can be used for the recruitment, hiring or retention of firefighters.

"I have seen firsthand the dramatic difference these grants can make, especially for small, rural communities that often cannot afford to properly staff their fire departments," said Senator Collins, who is Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Senator Collins is a sponsor of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act which reauthorizes this and other key firefighter programs. Since its inception, Maine fire departments have been awarded more than $3.6 million in SAFER funds.

Grant guidance for this program is available at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants/. FEMA's help desk can be reached at 1-866-274-0960, or by e-mail at firegrants@dhs.gov. For additional information, please contact Jared Golden on Senator Collins' Washington, D.C., staff at 202-224-4751, or by e-mail at Jared_Golden@HSGAC.Senate.Gov.