Several major national fire service organizations are teaming up to urge Congress to take action on grant programs.
Members of the Congressional Fire Services Institute, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, National Fire Protection Association, and National Volunteer Fire Council are gathering at D.C. Fire & EMS Engine 3 on Thursday, October 12, 2023 to call on Congress to ensure that vital fire service grant programs are reauthorized before they face a permanent sunset.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response
(SAFER) programs are the primary mechanism for the federal government to support local fire
departments. These critical programs will sunset on September 30, 2024, if they are not
reauthorized. This would impact fire and emergency services ability to protect communities.
Fire departments across the country respond to more than 36 million calls for service each year:
structural fire and wildfire, lithium-ion battery and hazardous materials response, opioid overdose and other medical emergencies, natural disasters, and much more. Even while they protect their communities from an ever-increasing range of hazards, firefighters face physical and mental health challenges due to their service. Departments are struggling to train and equip fire and EMS personnel and ensure that they have proper staffing to meet minimum requirements for response.
Learn more: www.cfsi.org/support-afg-safer-and-usfa-take-action-now.
