Baucus, Tester announce $116,000 for Montana fire department

Homeland Security grant will go to Kalispell

(GREAT FALLS, Mont.) – Kalispell’s West Valley Volunteer Fire and Rescue will receive nearly $116,000, thanks to a federal grant announced today by Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester.

The fire department will use the $115,915 for operations and safety.

“Firefighters are on the front line of every public safety emergency,” Baucus said. “This money will make sure the folks who are working to keep us safe have the resources they need to do their jobs.”

“Our fire departments help keep us safe,” Tester  said. “This is much-deserved federal funding for this fire department, it will allow them to get the job done, protecting homes and businesses and get home safely to their families.”

The money comes from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program.  The AFG Program regularly awards grants to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations across the country to help those agencies purchase equipment, vehicles, protective gear and training programs.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Grants and Training has administered the AFG Program with help from the U.S. Fire Administration since 2001.  Congress has authorized funding for the program through 2010.