Blunt Announces $1.9 Million
Federal Dollars Awarded to Missouri Fire Departments
JEFFERSON CITY, December 12, 2005-Gov. Matt Blunt today
commended nine Missouri Fire Departments for their efforts in receiving
over $1.9 million from the Department of Homeland Security’s
Office of Domestic Preparedness Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
Blunt also applauded local fire departments for their
recent efforts to register annually with the State Fire Marshal’s
office ensuring they are eligible to receive federal dollars available
to Missouri.
“I am pleased fire protection agencies are aggressively
seeking federal dollars to enhance Missouri’s ability to protect
and serve our citizens,” Blunt said.
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.
Missouri Fire Departments receiving grants to purchase
equipment through the Operations and Safety program are: Clear Springs
RFA ($7,828), Western Cass FPD ($122,160), Essex FD ($49,761), Cooper
County FPD ($60,000), 11 Point RFA in Willow Springs ($104,976), Crane
FPD ($74,977), and New Madrid County Ambulance ($84,265).
Missouri Fire Departments receiving grants to purchase
vehicles are: Clarksdale FPD ($171,000).
Three fire departments received Staffing for Adequate
Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Awards. The departments are:
Rock Community FPD in Arnold to hire 9 firefighters ($900,000), Bolivar
FD to recruit firefighters ($82,085), and Belton Emergency Services
to hire 3 personnel ($300,000).
Since August 2005, 124 Missouri Fire Departments have
received over $12 million for the Assistance to Firefighter Grants
program.
For more information about the grants, please contact Terri Durdaller
at (573) 751-4819.