Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly announced that fire departments in the communities of Galveston and Star City will receive Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) awards for vehicle acquisition through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“I’m pleased to announce these significant investments in the safety of the communities of Galveston and Star City,” said Donnelly.  “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program helps bolster first responders’ ability to best protect us and themselves, and I am proud to support area fire departments’ efforts to receive these competitive awards.  I congratulate the Galveston and Star City fire departments on earning the AFG awards and thank all first responders for their service to our communities.”

“Without the AFG program it would have taken us twenty years to pay for this truck,” said Galveston Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brent Ahrens.  “This grant will allow us to replace our 44-year-old truck that doesn't have any seat belts.  Without this grant I'm not sure how long it would have taken us to get this truck out of service.  This grant will also make our community much safer by taking our undependable apparatus out of service.”

Awarded through the Vehicle Acquisition Program Area of the AFG awards, the Galveston Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $191,000 and the Van Buren Township/Star City Fire Department was awarded $213,750.  This funding can be used to purchase apparatus such as pumpers, aerials, quints, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, foam units, and fireboats.

The purpose of the AFG Program is to award funding directly to fire departments and EMS organizations that are unaffiliated with a hospital to improve their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first responders.  Through a competitive process overseen by experts in the fire service field, AFG grants are awarded to applicants whose requests best address the priorities of the AFG Program.  For more information, visit the AFG Program’s website.

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