WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and U.S. Representatives John Larson (CT-1), Joe Courtney (CT-2), Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Jim Himes (CT-4), and Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) encouraged Connecticut’s fire departments and nonaffiliated ambulance and emergency medical service organizations to apply for federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) $306 million Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The grant program will help Connecticut’s fire departments and emergency response organizations more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel. Last year, Connecticut first responders received $3,765,497 in AFG grant money.

“Day-in and day-out, Connecticut’s firefighters and first responders bravely answer the call to help others and keep our communities safe. They deserve all the support and resources they need to do their jobs safely and efficiently,” said the delegation. “This $306 million commitment from FEMA can go a long way to help our emergency personnel, and we stand ready and waiting to assist Connecticut’s first responders through the application process.”

Any Connecticut fire departments and nonaffiliated ambulance and emergency medical service organizations interested in learning more about these resources are encouraged to contact their Senators or representatives. The application period for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program opens on Monday, December 7, 2015, and closes on January 15, 2016. 

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