U.S. fire departments receive federal grants for safety upgrades

Multiple fire departments in the United States have been awarded funding through the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to improve equipment and personnel safety.

The St. Albans Fire Department received $698,000 to replace aging vehicles, including an engine that is 31 years old and a 38-year-old tanker. The grant, which covers over 95 percent of the $732,900 total project cost, aims to address urgent equipment needs and reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers.

Redmond Fire & Rescue was awarded $252,706.81 to purchase and install source capture vehicle exhaust systems at all its stations. This project, totaling $277,977.50 including the district's cost share, is designed to reduce firefighters' exposure to carcinogenic diesel exhaust by rerouting fumes directly to the outside air.