The first round of FIRE Act grants which eventually will disburse about $700 million directly to fire departments, will be announced Friday morning. Firehouse.com will publish the first list of departments by 9 a.m. EST.
The first round announces 219 departments with grant amounts totaling $13,271,222. Thomas Olshanski, USFA Executive Assistant for Public, Media and External Affairs said this would be the typical numbers released weekly which will go on into 2004.
USFA is starting the announcements a month earlier then the program in 2002. And they have nearly twice as much money to award which should provide for about 7000 requests, way above the 5316 in the previous program.
Fire departments will begin receiving electronic grant award packages starting tomorrow, Friday. National and State press releases will be distributed late today.
Several media events on Thursday will announce in advance of Friday
