Stabenow, Levin Announce Grants for Five Southeast Michigan Fire Departments

Five Southeast Michigan fire departments will receive federal grants to help improve their operations and boost safety in their communities, U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced today. Fire departments in West Bloomfield Township, Bruce Township, Sterling Heights, Dearborn Heights and Pittsfield Charter Township will receive support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters program.

"Our firefighters provide courageous service to communities across Southeast Michigan," Stabenow said. "These grants will help make sure they have the resources they need to perform their duties safely and protect the public."

"Every day, local firefighters make enormous efforts and sacrifices to protect lives and property in their communities," Levin said. "These grants will help support them in their difficult and dangerous work."

The FEMA grants are being awarded to:

• West Bloomfield Township Fire Department in Oakland County will receive $276,359 to improve operations and safety;
• Bruce Township Fire Department in Macomb County will receive a $237,500 grant for vehicle acquisition;
• Sterling Heights Fire Department in Macomb County will receive $193,986 to improve operations and safety;
• Dearborn Heights Fire Department in Wayne County will receive $507,060 to improve operations and safety;
• Pittsfield Charter Township Fire Department in Washtenaw County will receive a $257,400 operations and safety grant.

The Assistance to Firefighters Program allows local fire agencies to compete for grants to buy new emergency vehicles or to improve operations and safety by providing firefighter training or personal protective equipment, modifying existing facilities or buying supplies. Applications are evaluated in a competitive process by a panel of peers from fire and EMS organizations.

More information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program can be found at www.fema.gov/firegrants.