Ravalli Republic: Tester secures $300K for Ravalli County firefighters

Montana Senator Jon Tester recently secured more than $300,000 in funding for firefighters in Ravalli County. 

The $304,762 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) was secured through the FY23 government funding bill and will provide funding for Sula’s Rural Fire Department, helping them to purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses.

The FY23 funding bill aims to bolster rural communities nationwide by providing funding for public safety, agriculture and energy ($4.4 million for wildfire suppression and $45.07 million for Land and Water Conservation Projects in Montana). According to a statement published on Tester’s website, “Senator Tester was the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation to vote for this funding.” 

In June, President Joe Biden enacted the Fire Grants and Safety Act to reintroduce AFG funding and adequate staffing in fire departments. Tester was a proponent of this act’s activation and also supported a $648 million fund for AGF and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) in a separate 2024 government funding bill. 

An excerpt from the statement says, “AFG and SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) are the main sources of federal funding for firefighters and help departments purchase equipment and increase staffing — and both programs were set to expire in September 30, 2024.”

“Every day, Montana’s firefighters put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe, rushing into danger while others run away — and the least we can do is work to ensure these heroes have the support and resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively,” Tester said in a written statement. “I’ve always been proud to support reauthorizing critical AFG grants to help Montana’s fire departments purchase equipment, and I’m glad to see that funding go towards the vital firefighting efforts in Ravalli County.”