FIRE Act Grant Applications Period is Open, but Not for Long

The grant application period for three FIRE Act grant programs are now open  and there's no time to dally. 

FEMA officials also announced Monday afternoon that the period will close on June 22.

The $648 million -- the same available and allocated as last year --  includes:

•  $291.6 million though Assistance to Firefighters Grants(AFG) to fire departments and other emergency medical services agencies. Recipients can use the money to acquire personal protective equipment and emergency response vehicles. They can also use it to fund health, wellness and resiliency initiatives to prepare responders for incidents.

• $324 million in Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) funding to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations. Recipients can use this money to pay salaries for firefighters, enabling them to stay well-staffed. They can also use the money to recruit more people into the fire service and retain them. 
• $32.4 million through the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant program to fire departments and non-profit organizations, academic and other research-oriented institutions. Recipients can use this money to fund research and clinical studies focused on community fire prevention and firefighter safety, health and well-being. 

Two federal holidays -- Memorial Day and Juneteenth -- fall during the application period. The Help Desk will not be staffed on those days.

This year's application process closes on a Monday not Friday as in the past.

"By law, the funds must be allocated by Sept. 30," explained Cathie Patterson, who oversaw FEMA’s fire service and Emergency Operations Center grant programs, before retiring last fall.

As she predicted during the CFSI's annual conference in March, Patterson said the process will be on the fast track.

“The turndown letters didn’t go out. I’m not sure why,” she said.

In a statement Monday, FEMA officials said departments that didn't get selected will be notified soon.

Patterson encourages applicants who were turned down to contact the help desk or regional program specialists at FEMA to understand why their request was denied.

The priority programs are listed in the appendix, and applicants should be familiar with them.

Use caution using AI in the process, she warned.

"You tell the story about your department. Make it stick out…”

After the deadline, federal grants officials will be reviewing the documents to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements.

If they do, they'll be sent to peer reviewers.