August 12, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2002-32) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org FEMA ANNOUNCES GRANT AWARD FOR MOBILE FIRE-RESCUE DEPARTMENT Washington, DC – The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Fire Administration announced the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department has been awarded a $793,089.00 grant from the 2002 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Fire Officials plan to make the official announcement at the Mobile City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 13, 2002. The award will be used by the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department to purchase heavy rescue equipment. The equipment will be used to assist firefighters with vehicle/patient extrication and building collapse. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is designed as an opportunity for the United States Congress to work with FEMA to enhance basic fire service delivery across the United States. Over 5,000 departments will received over $360 million to support fire protection, EMS delivery, vehicle purchase, and prevention programs in 2002. “The men and women of both volunteer and career fire departments confront new and changing life safety challenges, everyday,” according to USFA Administrator, R. David Paulison. “President Bush has provided the USFA an opportunity to take some much needed steps in providing these people the right tools to be able to do their jobs safely and more efficiently. It is our hope this grant assistance program will demonstrate our commitment to improving fire and life safety across the country, and will provide the necessary incentive for all Americans to join in supporting these brave men and women, as they face the challenges of today.” Over 19,000 fire departments applied for grant awards this year. The request of the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department has been through a national peer review process involving over 300 fire service leaders. FEMA is proud to announce the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department is a 2002 grant award recipient. For further information, contact Steve Huffman. USFA, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, serves the American public and the nations fire services through training, data collection and analysis, public fire education, and fire protection technology research. For more information, including national fire statistics visit the USFA web site at www.usfa.fema.gov. ###