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The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, also known as fire grants or the FIRE Act
grant program, was established by Title XVII of the FY2001 National Defense Authorization Act
(P.L. 106-398). Currently administered by the Grant Programs Directorate of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the
program provides federal grants directly to local fire departments and unaffiliated Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) organizations to help address a variety of equipment, training, and other
firefighter-related and EMS needs. A related program is the Staffing for Adequate Fire and
Emergency Response Firefighters (SAFER) program, which provides grants for hiring, recruiting,
and retaining firefighters.
The fire grant program is now in its eighth year. Over $4.25 billion has been appropriated to the
fire grant program since FY2001. The Fire Act statute was reauthorized in 2004 (Title XXXVI of
P.L. 108-375) and provides overall guidelines on how fire grant money should be distributed.
There is no set geographical formula for the distribution of fire grants—fire departments
throughout the nation apply, and award decisions are made by a peer panel based on the merits of
the application and the needs of the community. However, the law does require that fire grants be
distributed to a diverse mix of fire departments, with respect to type of department (paid,
volunteer, or combination), geographic location, and type of community served (e.g. urban,
suburban, or rural).
The Bush Administration proposed $300 million for fire grants in FY2009, a 46% cut from the
FY2008 level of $560 million. No funding was proposed for SAFER grants. The Consolidated
Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 110-329)—which
contains the FY2009 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act—provided $775
million for firefighter assistance, including $565 million for fire grants and $210 million for
SAFER.
On February 17, 2009, the President signed P.L. 111-5, the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA) of 2009. The ARRA includes an additional $210 million in firefighter assistance
grants for modifying, upgrading, or constructing state and local non-federal fire stations, provided
that 5% be set aside for program administration and provided that no grant shall exceed $15
million. The ARRA also includes a provision that waives the matching requirement for SAFER
grants in fiscal years 2009 and 2010.
The Obama Administration’s FY2010 budget proposal for firefighter assistance is likely to
receive heightened scrutiny from the fire community, given what was viewed as inadequate past
budget proposals by the Bush Administration, and given the national economic downturn and
local budgetary cutbacks that many fire departments are now facing. Concerns over local fire
departments’ budgetary problems may also frame debate of the assistance to firefighters grant
program reauthorization bill, which is expected to be considered during the first session of the
111th Congress.
This report will be updated as events warrant.

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Background ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program ....................................................................................... 1
Reauthorization ......................................................................................................................... 1
Appropriations........................................................................................................................... 2
FY2008 ............................................................................................................................... 3
FY2009 ............................................................................................................................... 4
Economic Stimulus Legislation....................................................................................................... 5
SAFER Grants................................................................................................................................. 5
Program Evaluation......................................................................................................................... 6
Distribution of Fire Grants .............................................................................................................. 7
Issues in the 111th Congress............................................................................................................. 9

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Table 1. Major Provisions of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
Reauthorization Act...................................................................................................................... 2
Table 2. Appropriations for Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, FY2001-FY2009............. 3
Table 3. Current Appropriations for Firefighter Assistance............................................................. 3
Table 4. Appropriations for SAFER Program, FY2005-FY2009 .................................................... 6
Table 5. State-by-State Distribution of Fire Grants, FY2001-FY2007........................................ 10
Table 6. State-by-State Distribution of SAFER Grants, FY2005-FY2007................................... 12
Table 7. Requests and Awards for Fire Grant Funding, FY2007................................................... 14

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Author Contact Information .......................................................................................................... 15

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Firefighting activities are traditionally the responsibility of states and local communities. As such,
funding for firefighters is provided mostly by state and local governments. During the 1990s,
shortfalls in state and local budgets, coupled with increased responsibilities of local fire
departments, led many in the fire community to call for additional financial support from the
federal government. While federally funded training programs existed (and continue to exist)
through the National Fire Academy, and while federal money was available to first responders for
counterterrorism training and equipment through the Department of Justice,1 there did not exist a
dedicated program, exclusively for firefighters, which provided federal money directly to local
fire departments to help address a wide variety of equipment, training, and other firefighter-
related needs.
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During the 106th Congress, many in the fire community asserted that local fire departments
require and deserve greater support from the federal government. The Assistance to Firefighters
Grant Program (AFG), also known as fire grants or the FIRE Act grant program, was established
by Title XVII of the FY2001 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 106-398).2 Currently
administered by the Grant Programs Directorate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the program provides federal grants
directly to local fire departments and unaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
organizations to help address a variety of equipment, training, and other firefighter-related and
EMS needs.
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On October 28, 2004, the President signed the FY2005 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L.
108-375). Title XXXVI of P.L. 108-375 is the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
Reauthorization Act of 2004, which reauthorizes the fire grant program through FY2009. Table 1
provides a summary of key provisions of the current reauthorization.

1 For a list of federal programs providing assistance to state and local first responders, see CRS Report RL32348,
Selected Federal Homeland Security Assistance Programs: A Summary, by Shawn Reese.
2 “Firefighter assistance” is codified as section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2229).
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Table 1. Major Provisions of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
Reauthorization Act
Grant recipient limits:
populations over 1 million—lesser of $2.75 million or 0.5% of total appropriation
populations of 500K to 1 million—$1.75 million
populations under 500K—$1 million
no single grant can exceed 0.5% of total funds appropriated for a single fiscal year
DHS can waive the funding limits for populations up to 1 million in instances of extraordinary need; however the
lesser of $2.75 million or 0.5% limit cannot be waived
Nonfederal match requirements:
20% for populations over 50K
10% for populations 20K to 50K
5% for populations less than 20K
No match requirement for non-fire department prevention and firefighter safety grants
Authorized for five years:
FY2005—$900 million
FY2006—$950 million
FY2007—$1 billion
FY2008—$1 billion
FY2009—$1 billion
Expands grant eligibility to emergency medical service squads, not less than 3.5% of fire grant money for EMS, but no
more than 2% for nonaffiliated EMS
Provides grants for firefighter health and safety R&D
Requires the USFA Administrator to convene an annual meeting of non-federal fire service experts to recommend
criteria for awarding grants and administrative changes
Requires fire service peer review of grant applications
Requires the USFA, in conjunction with the National Fire Protection Association, to conduct a $300,000, 18-month
study on the fire grant program and the need for federal assistance to state and local communities to fund firefighting
and emergency response activities
Source: Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2004, Section XXXVI of P.L. 108-375,
FY2005 National Defense Authorization Act
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From FY2001 through FY2003, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program (as part of
USFA/FEMA) received its primary appropriation through the VA-HUD-Independent Agencies
Appropriation Act. In FY2004, the Assistance to Firefighters Program began to receive its annual
appropriation through the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Homeland
Security. The fire grant program is in its eighth year. Table 2 shows the fire grant program’s
appropriations history. Over $4.815 billion has been appropriated to the fire grant program since
FY2001, its initial year. Table 3 shows current and proposed appropriated funding for firefighter
assistance.
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Table 2. Appropriations for Assistance to
Firefighters Grant Program, FY2001-FY2009
Fiscal year
Appropriation
FY2001 $100
million
FY2002 $360
million
FY2003 $745
million
FY2004 $746
million
FY2005 $650
million
FY2006 $539
million
FY2007 $547
million
FY2008 $560
million
FY2009 $565
million
Total $4.815
billion

Table 3. Current Appropriations for Firefighter Assistance
(millions of dollars)
FY2009

FY2008
FY2009 Admin.
FY2009
FY2009
(P.L. 110-161)
request
H.Rept. 110-
862
S.Rept. 110-396 P.L. 110-329
FIRE
Grants
560 300 570 560 565
SAFER
190 0 230 190 210
Grants
Total 750 300 800 750 775

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The Administration proposed $300 million for fire grants in FY2008, a 45% cut from the FY2007
level. No funding was proposed for SAFER grants. The total request for firefighter assistance was
55% below the FY2007 level for fire and SAFER grants combined. The FY2008 budget proposal
would have eliminated grants for wellness/fitness activities and modifications to facilities for
firefighter safety. The budget justification requested funding for “applications that enhance the
most critical capabilities of local response to fire-related hazards in the event of a terrorist attack
or major disaster.” The budget justification also stated that the requested level of funding is “an
appropriate level of funding given the availability of significant amounts of funding for first
responder preparedness missions from other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant
programs which are better coordinated with state and local homeland security strategies and,
unlike AFG, are allocated on the basis of risk.”
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-161) provided $560 million for fire grants
and $190 million for SAFER grants, a total of $750 million for firefighter assistance in FY2008.
As stated in the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying P.L. 110-161, $3 million was made
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available for foam firefighter equipment used in remote areas, to be competitively awarded. GAO
was directed to review the application and award process for fire and SAFER grants, and FEMA
was directed to peer review all grant applications that meet criteria established by FEMA and the
fire service.
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The Bush Administration proposed $300 million for fire grants in FY2009, a 46% cut from the
FY2008 level of $560 million. No funding was proposed for SAFER grants. The total request for
firefighter assistance was 60% below the FY2008 level for fire and SAFER grants combined.
According to the budget justification, “the Administration believes that $287 million is an
appropriate level of funding given the availability of significant amounts of funding for first
responder preparedness missions from other DHS grant programs which are coordinated with
state and local homeland security strategies and, unlike AFG, are allocated on the basis of risk.”
Priority will be given to applications that enhance capabilities needed for terrorism response and
other major incidents. Funding will only be available for critical response equipment, training,
and personal protective gear, and will not be available for wellness/fitness activities or
modifications to facilities for firefighter safety.
On June 19, 2008, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY2009 appropriations bill
for the Department of Homeland Security (S. 3181; S.Rept. 110-396). The bill would provide
$750 million for firefighter assistance, including $560 million for fire grants and $190 million for
SAFER grants. This is the same funding level approved for FY2008. The Committee directed
DHS to continue the present practice of funding applications according to local priorities and
those established by the U.S. Fire Administration, and further directed DHS to continue direct
funding to fire departments and the peer review process. Additionally, $3 million was made
available for foam firefighter equipment used in remote areas.
On June 24, 2008, the House Appropriations Committee approved its version of the FY2009
appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security, and reported its bill on September 18,
2008 (H.R. 6947; H.Rept. 110-862). The Committee would provide $800 million for firefighter
assistance, consisting of $570 million for fire grants and $230 million for SAFER grants. The
Committee directed FEMA to continue granting funds directly to local fire departments and to
include the U.S. Fire Administration during the grant administration process, while also
maintaining an all-hazards focus and not limiting the list of eligible activities. The Committee
would continue the requirement that FEMA peer review grant applications that meet criteria
established by FEMA and the fire service, rank order applications according to peer review, fund
applications according to their rank order, and provide official notification detailing why
applications do not meet the criteria for review. The Committee also directed FEMA to encourage
regional applications.
The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L.
110-329)—which contains the FY2009 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act—
provided $775 million for firefighter assistance, including $565 million for fire grants and $210
million for SAFER. The DHS explanatory statement directed FEMA to continue the present
practice of funding applications according to local priorities and those established by the USFA.
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On January 27, 2009, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported S. 336 (S.Rept. 111-3), the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The legislation included an
additional $500 million in firefighter assistance grants for modifying, upgrading, or constructing
state and local fire stations, provided that 5% be set aside for program administration and
provided that no grant shall exceed $15 million. Currently, the fire grant program provides money
specifically for health and safety related modifications of fire stations, but does not fund major
upgrades or construction.
The House-passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1, passed on January
28, 2009) included a provision (section 7005) that waives the matching requirement for SAFER
grants in fiscal years 2009 and 2010.
On February 13, 2009, the House approved the Conference Agreement on H.R. 1 (H.Rept. 111-
16). The House and Senate approved the Conference Agreement on February 13, 2009. On
February 17, 2009, the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(P.L. 111-5). P.L. 111-5 provides an additional $210 million in firefighter assistance grants for
modifying, upgrading, or constructing state and local non-federal fire stations, provided that 5%
be set aside for program administration and provided that no grant shall exceed $15 million. The
Conference Report cites DHS estimates that this spending will create 2,000 jobs. The ARRA also
includes the provision (section 603) that waives the matching requirement for SAFER grants in
fiscal years 2009 and 2010.
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In response to concerns over the adequacy of firefighter staffing, the 108th Congress enacted the
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Act as Section 1057 of the
FY2004 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 108-136; signed into law November 24, 2003).
The SAFER grant program is codified as Section 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229a). The SAFER Act authorizes grants to career, volunteer, and
combination fire departments for the purpose of increasing the number of firefighters to help
communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate
protection from fire and fire-related hazards. Also authorized are grants to volunteer fire
departments for activities related to the recruitment and retention of volunteers. P.L. 108-136
authorizes over one billion dollars per year through FY2010 for SAFER.
Two types of grants are authorized by the SAFER Act: hiring grants and recruitment and retention
grants. Hiring grants cover a four-year term and are cost-shared with the local jurisdiction.
According to the statute, the federal share shall not exceed 90% in the first year of the grant, 80%
in the second year, 50% in the third year, and 30% in the fourth year. The grantee must commit to
retaining the firefighter or firefighters hired with the SAFER grant for at least one additional year
after the federal money expires. Total federal funding for hiring a firefighter over the four-year
grant period may not exceed $100,000, although that total may be adjusted for inflation. While
the majority of hiring grants will be awarded to career and combination fire departments, the
SAFER Act specifies that 10% of the total SAFER appropriation be awarded to volunteer or
majority-volunteer departments for the hiring of personnel.
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Additionally, at least 10% of the total SAFER appropriation is set aside for recruitment and
retention grants, which are available to volunteer and combination fire departments for activities
related to the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. Also eligible for recruitment and
retention grants are local and statewide organizations that represent the interests of volunteer
firefighters. No local cost sharing is required for recruitment and retention grants.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) includes a provision (section
7005) that waives the matching requirement for SAFER grants in fiscal years 2009 and 2010.
Table 4 shows the SAFER program’s appropriations history. $479 million has been appropriated
to the SAFER program since FY2005, its initial year. For more information on the SAFER
program, see CRS Report RL33375, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The
SAFER Grant Program, by Lennard G. Kruger.
Table 4. Appropriations for SAFER Program, FY2005-FY2009
Fiscal year
Appropriation
FY2005 $65
million
FY2006 $109
million
FY2007 $115
million
FY2008 $190
million
FY2009 $210
million
Total $689
million

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On May 13, 2003, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) released the first independent evaluation
of the Assistance to Firefighters Program. Conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Leadership Development Academy Executive Potential Program, the survey study presented a
number of recommendations and concluded overall that the program was “highly effective in
improving the readiness and capabilities of firefighters across the nation.”3 Another evaluation of
the fire grant program was released by the DHS Office of Inspector General in September 2003.
The report concluded that the program “succeeded in achieving a balanced distribution of funding
through a competitive grant process,”4 and made a number of specific recommendations for
improving the program.
At the request of DHS, the National Academy of Public Administration conducted a study to help
identify potential new strategic directions for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program and to
provide advice on how to effectively plan, manage, and measure program accomplishments.

3 For full report see http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/affgp-fy01-usda-report.pdf.
4 Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspections, Evaluations, and Special Reviews, “A Review of the
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program,” OIG-ISP-01-03, September 2003, p. 3. Available at http://www.dhs.gov/
xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_Review_Fire_Assist.pdf.
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Released in April 2007, the report recommended consideration of new strategic directions related
to national preparedness, prevention vs. response, social equity, regional cooperation, and
emergency medical response. According to the report, the “challenge for the AFG program will
be to support a gradual shift in direction without losing major strengths of its current management
approach—including industry driven priority setting and its well-respected peer review process.”5
The Administration’s FY2008 budget proposal was accompanied by program evaluations called
the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART). For assessment year 2007, PART gave the fire
grant program a rating of “Effective,” (an improvement from the previous rating of “Results Not
Demonstrated”). The PART directed DHS to embark on an improvement plan encompassing three
elements: establishing a continuing strategic planning process, improving program transparency,
and increasing outreach.6
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-161), in the accompanying Joint
Explanatory Statement, directed the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the
application and award process for fire and SAFER grants. Additionally, FEMA was directed to
peer review grant applications that best address the program’s priorities and criteria as established
by FEMA and the fire service. Those criteria necessary for peer-review must be included in the
grant application package. Applicants whose grant applications are not reviewed must receive an
official notification detailing why the application did not meet the criteria for review.
Applications must be rank-ordered, and funded following the rank order.
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The FIRE Act statute prescribes 14 different purposes for which fire grant money may be used
(see 15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(3)). These are: hiring firefighters; training firefighters; creating rapid
intervention teams; certifying fire inspectors; establishing wellness and fitness programs; funding
emergency medical services; acquiring firefighting vehicles; acquiring firefighting equipment;
acquiring personal protective equipment; modifying fire stations for health and safety; enforcing
fire codes; funding fire prevention programs; educating the public about arson prevention and
detection; and providing incentives for the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. The
DHS has the discretion to decide which of those purposes will be funded for a given grant year.
Since the program commenced in FY2001, the majority of fire grant funding has been used by
fire departments to purchase firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment, and
firefighting vehicles. The program does not award funding for major building construction.
Eligible applicants are limited primarily to fire departments (defined as an agency or organization
that has a formally recognized arrangement with a state, local, or tribal authority to provide fire
suppression, fire prevention and rescue services to a population within a fixed geographical area).
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) activities are eligible for fire grants, including a limited
number (no more than 2% of funds allocated) to EMS organizations not affiliated with hospitals.

5 National Academy of Public Administration, Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program: Assessing Performance,
April 2007, p. xvii. Available at http://www.napawash.org/pc_management_studies/
Fire_Grants_Report_April2007.pdf.
6 Office of Management and Budget, ExpectMore.gov, Detailed Information on the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, Grants and Training Office Assistance to Firefighters Grants Assessment, Assessment Year 2007, available at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/detail/10001071.2007.html.
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Additionally, a separate competition is held for fire prevention and firefighter safety research and
development grants, which are available to national, state, local, or community fire prevention or
safety organizations (including, but not limited to, fire departments). For official program
guidelines, frequently-asked-questions, the latest awards announcements, and other information,
see the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program web page at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/.
The FIRE Act statute provides overall guidelines on how fire grant money will be distributed and
administered. The law directs that volunteer departments receive a proportion of the total grant
funding that is not less than the proportion of the U.S. population that those departments protect
(currently 55%). The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Title
XXXVI of P.L. 108-375) raised award caps and lowered nonfederal matching requirements
(based on recipient community population), extended eligibility to nonaffiliated emergency
medical services (i.e. ambulance services not affiliated with fire departments), and expanded the
scope of grants to include firefighter safety R&D.
There is no set geographical formula for the distribution of fire grants—fire departments
throughout the nation apply, and award decisions are made by a peer panel based on the merits of
the application and the needs of the community. However, the law does require that fire grants
should be distributed to a diverse mix of fire departments, with respect to type of department
(paid, volunteer, or combination), geographic location, and type of community served (e.g. urban,
suburban, or rural).7 The Fire Act’s implementing regulation provides that:
In a few cases, to fulfill our obligations under the law to make grants to a variety of
departments, we may also make funding decisions using rank order as the preliminary basis,
and then analyze the type of fire department (paid, volunteer, or combination fire
departments), the size and character of the community it serves (urban, suburban, or rural),
and/or the geographic location of the fire department. In these instances where we are
making decisions based on geographic location, we will use States as the basic geographic
unit.8
According to the FY2008 Program Guidance for the Assistance to Firefighters Program, career
(paid) departments will compete against other career departments for up to 45% of the available
funding, while volunteer and combination departments will compete for at least 55% of the
available funding.9 However, given that less than 10% of fire grant applications are historically
received from career departments, funding levels are likely not to reach the 45% ceiling for career
departments.10 Additionally, each fire department that applies is classified as either urban,
suburban, or rural. In FY2005, 6% of the total number of fire grant awards went to urban areas,
17% to suburban areas, and 77% to rural areas. Of the total amount of federal funding awarded,
11% went to urban areas, 20% to suburban areas, and 69% to rural areas.11

7 15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(9).
8 44 CFR Part 152.6(c).
9 For the FY2008 round of awards, no less than 33% of AFG funds must be awarded to combination departments, and
no less than 22% of AFG funds must be awarded to all-volunteer departments. See Department of Homeland Security,
Fiscal Year 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program and Application Guidance, February 2008, p. 7.
10 Department of Homeland Security, Fiscal Year 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program and Application,
March 2007 p. 52.
11 Department of Homeland Security, National Preparedness Directorate, Capabilities Division, Assistance to
Firefighters Grant Program, FY2005 Report, p. 14.
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Finally, in an effort to maximize the diversity of awardees, the geographic location of an applicant
(using states as the basic geographic unit) is used as a deciding factor in cases where applicants
have similar qualifications. Table 5 shows a state-by-state breakdown of fire grant funding for
FY2001 through FY2007, while Table 6 shows a state-by-state breakdown of SAFER grant
funding for FY2005 through FY2007. Table 7 provides an in-depth look at the FY2007 fire
grants, showing, for each state, the number of fire departments in each state,12 the number of fire
grant applications, the total amount requested, the total amount awarded, and the amount of funds
awarded as a percentage of funds requested. As Table 7 shows, the entire pool of fire department
applicants received, to date, about 16% of the funds they requested in FY2007. This is down from
21% in FY2006, 22% in FY2005, 28% in FY2004, and 34% in FY2003. This reflects the fact that
the number of applications and federal funds requested have trended upward over these years,
while appropriations for the fire grant program have declined over the same period.
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The Obama Administration’s FY2010 budget proposal for firefighter assistance is likely to
receive heightened scrutiny from the fire community, given what was viewed as inadequate past
budget proposals by the Bush Administration, and given the national economic downturn and
local budgetary cutbacks that many fire departments are now facing. Concerns over local fire
departments’ budgetary problems may also frame debate of the assistance to firefighters grant
program reauthorization bill, which is expected to be considered during the first session of the
111th Congress. Possible reauthorization issues might include whether the scope and size of the
program should be altered, as well as how grant allocation rules and criteria might be modified.

12 The fire grant program sets a limit of up to three applications per fire department per year (a vehicle application, an
application for operations and safety, and a regional application). Thus, the number of fire departments in a state plays
a major factor in the number of fire grant applications submitted and the amount of total funding awarded within a
given state. For example, because Pennsylvania has—by far—the largest number of fire departments, it is not
surprising that it leads the nation in the number of fire grants applications and the amount of funding awarded.
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Table 5. State-by-State Distribution of Fire Grants,
FY2001-FY2007
(millions of dollars)
FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 Total
AL 3.085 12.503 23.329 25.097 20.836
22.027 19.885

126.762
AK 1.303 2.641 5.242 2.522 3.111
0.754 2.454

18.027
AZ 1.37 3.6 7.490 9.808 7.905 4.041 4.932 39.146
AR 1.337 4.635 10.675 13.680 10.402 7.699 7.799 56.227
CA 5.905 18.978 30.060 29.793 25.631 17.856 18.730 146.953
CO 1.003 3.968 6.168 5.585 6.073 3.213 4.742 30.752
CT 1.828 4.675 10.841 9.991 7.287 5.479 6.630 46.731
DE 0.132 0.372 1.096 1.755 1.161 1.107 0.518 6.141
DC 0 0.22 0 0 0.453 0 0.376
1.049
FL 2.865 10.16 16.344 15.969 17.922 6.787 8.288 78.335
GA 2.375 6.079 13.791 11.857 10.168 8.887 9.068 62.225
HI
0 1.182 0.947 0.864 1.205 0.264 0.436 4.898
ID 0.916 2.744 6.001 4.828 4.684 2.712 4.297 26.182
IL
2.417 13.398 28.810 27.238 25.433 21.120 21.923 140.339
IN 2.703 8.739 20.456 18.646 15.779 14.447 13.831 94.601
IA 1.301 7.284 16.087 16.430 13.119 10.064 9.298 73.583
KS 1.153 5.118 10.850 10.211 7.165 4.984 5.502 44.983
KY 2.215 7.896 19.832 16.150 14.215 13.308 13.081 86.697
LA 3.344 10.084 12.248 11.101 11.630 6.935 5.473 60.815
ME 1.296 4.319 10.323 10.031 6.124 6.702 5.486 44.281
MD 0.739 4.08 8.153 10.227 8.771 10.368 7.712 50.05
MA 2.301 8.386 15.715 13.958 13.529 8.957 11.644 74.49
MI 2.815 8.948 17.247 20.005 15.088 15.798 10.611 90.512
MN 2.133 8.149 17.510 18.609 14.894 14.718 16.600 92.613
MS 1.763 6.755 15.679 11.329 9.856 7.885 8.052 61.319
MO 3.079 10.291 19.573 17.757 14.246 13.202 10.611 88.759
MT 1.164 3.726 8.361 7.271 6.656 5.839 7.330 40.347
NE 1.034 2.392 7.820 6.577 5.116 4.399 4.443 31.781
NV 0.282 1.446 3.312 1.405 1.946 0.857 1.530 10.778
NH 0.594 1.887 4.584 5.694 4.563 3.307 3.219 23.848
NJ 2.596 6.339 19.982 16.488 14.691 12.386 13.266 85.748
NM 1.455 3.463 5.048 3.653 2.259 1.461 1.367 18.706
NY 3.978 14.728 34.320 35.030 36.009 33.804 22.664 180.533
NC 1.949 10.239 22.864 22.360 19.315 18.309 20.031 115.067
ȱȱȱ
ŗŖȱ

ȱȱȱǱȱȱȱȱ ȱȱ
ȱ
FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 Total
ND 0.546 2.613 5.105 3.391 2.673 2.459 3.100 19.887
OH 2.731 13.742 26.997 29.107 27.344 25.380 26.433 151.734
OK 1.864 4.939 10.540 10.393 8.757 10.852 7.220 54.565
OR 1.596 4.892 9.896 10.122 10.014 9.288 5.943 51.751
PA
2.89 16.97 45.179 47.898 39.233 41.259 43.610 237.039
RI 0.407 1.507 2.327 1.917 2.129 2.025 0.855 11.167
SC 1.554 5.257 11.832 14.150 10.544 8.028 10.470 61.835
SD 0.904 3.142 5.602 4.693 3.570 2.989 2.474 23.374
TN 2.46 11.509 19.306 18.686 15.047 11.209 12.955 91.172
TX 3.697 15.644 29.264 30.118 23.480 18.035 17.691 137.929
UT 0.9 2.754 4.628 3.880 2.188 2.213 3.378 19.941
VT 0.451 1.971 5.163 4.747 2.071 1.456 1.820 17.679
VA 2.066 8.79 15.816 16.668 14.357 8.317 10.403 76.417
WA 1.535 7.544 18.808 19.565 15.763 16.150 12.951 92.316
WV 1.067 3.966 9.942 9.133 10.143 5.838 7.070 47.159
WI 2.077 7.518 18.234 19.668 17.685 13.994 19.439 98.615
WY 1.09 1.612 3.507 1.811 2.032 1.197 1.645 12.894
PR 0.657 0.382 1.643 1.140 1.104 0.528 0.019 5.473
MP 0.145 0.225 0
0 0.220 0.172
0 0.762
GU 0
0.016 0 0 0
0.287

0
0.303
AS
0.164 0 0 0.284 0 0 0 0.448
VI 0.741 0 0.544 0 0 0 0 1.285
Tot. 91.972 334.417 695.121
679.305 585.619 491.375 494.108

3367.023
Source: Department of Homeland Security. FY2007 awards data not final, current as of 9/22/2008.

ȱȱȱ
ŗŗȱ

ȱȱȱǱȱȱȱȱ ȱȱ
ȱ
Table 6. State-by-State Distribution of SAFER Grants,
FY2005-FY2007
(millions of dollars)

FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 Total
Alabama
1.611 6.215 3.822
11.648
Alaska
1.051 0.205 0.418 1.674
Arizona
1.560 3.559 4.111 9.23
Arkansas
0.394 1.820 0.377 2.591
California
5.221 5.212 4.119 14.552
Colorado
1.584 3.479 1.730 6.793
Connecticut
0.130 0.191 0.809 1.13
Delaware 0
0.135
0
0.135
District of Columbia
0
0
0
0
Florida
6.576 9.329 4.636 20.541
Georgia
5.354 2.085 2.842 10.281
Hawaii
0 0 0 0
Idaho
0.063 0.621 0.626 1.31
Illinois
1.340 4.463 9.406 15.209
Indiana 0
0.099
2.687
2.786
Iowa
0.169 0.144 0.980 1.293
Kansas
0.667 0.045 1.029 1.741
Kentucky
0.152 2.890 0.429 3.471
Louisiana
3.430 3.078 4.651 11.159
Maine 0.081
0
0.316
0.397
Maryland
0.096 1.862 1.526 3.484
Massachusetts
1.300 2.079 4.372 7.751
Michigan
1.759 0.592 0
2.351
Minnesota
0.300 1.089 0.375 1.764
Mississippi
0.756 0.594 0.115 1.465
Missouri
1.467 3.547 4.551 9.565
Montana
0.034 0.255 2.635 2.924
Nebraska 0
0.873
0.632
1.505
Nevada
1.500 1.714 0.632 3.846
New
Hampshire
0.400 1.035 1.528 2.963
New
Jersey
6.374 3.971 1.688 12.033
New Mexico
0
3.123
0.361
3.484
New
York
1.540 2.991 2.845 7.376
North
Carolina
2.155 5.533 4.631 12.319
ȱȱȱ
ŗŘȱ

ȱȱȱǱȱȱȱȱ ȱȱ
ȱ

FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 Total
North Dakota
0
0.609
0
0.609
Ohio
1.319 1.881 2.255 5.455
Oklahoma
0.147 0.699 0.531 1.377
Oregon
1.710 2.141 2.649 6.5
Pennsylvania
1.244 1.475 2.633 5.352
Rhode Island
0.400
0
0.105
0.505
South
Carolina
0.456 0.863 3.218 4.537
South
Dakota
0.063 0.311 0.211 0.585
Tennessee
2.700 2.719 3.569 8.988
Texas 0.951
10.961
6.564
18.476
Utah
0.900 3.312 2.003 6.215
Vermont 0
0.621
0.632
1.253
Virginia
2.091 3.554 0.782 6.427
Washington
2.298 2.897 7.024 12.219
West Virginia
0
0.187
0.681
0.868
Wisconsin 0
0.072
1.012
1.084
Wyoming
0 0 0.316
0.316
Puerto
Rico
0 0 0 0
Northern Mariana Islands
0
0
0
0
Marshall
Islands
0 0 0 0
Guam
0 0 0 0
American
Samoa
0 0 0 0
Virgin
Islands
0 0 0 0
Republic of Palua
0
0
0
0
Total
61.356 105.142
104.659 271.157
Source: Department of Homeland Security. FY2007 awards data not final, current as of 9/22/2008.

ȱȱȱ
ŗřȱ

ȱȱȱǱȱȱȱȱ ȱȱ
ȱ
Table 7. Requests and Awards for Fire Grant Funding, FY2007
Number of
Federal funds Federal funds
fire/EMS
Number of
requested
awarded
Funds awarded as a
State
departmentsa applications ($millions)
($millions) % of funds requested
Alabama 958 720 91.230
19.885

0.2179655815
Alaska 72 72
13.759
2.454

0.1783559852
Arizona 281 166 36.489 4.932
0.135164022
Arkansas 826 458 58.209 7.799 0.1339827174
California 802 499 100.560 18.730 0.186256961
Colorado 371 197 29.258 4.742 0.1620753298
Connecticut 393
220 40.017 6.630 0.1656795862
Delaware 77 32 6.217 0.518 0.083319929
District of
Columbia
18 2
0.418
0.376
0.8995215311
Florida 748 293 60.133
8.288
0.137827815
Georgia 792 331 57.090 9.068 0.1588369242
Hawaii 18 4 1.168
0.436
0.3732876712
Idaho 211 111
18.762
4.297
0.2290267562
Illinois 1081 858
130.841
21.923
0.1675545127
Indiana 656 480 83.228
13.831
0.1661820541
Iowa 862
531
61.512
9.298
0.1511574977
Kansas 674 298 36.207
5.502
0.1519595658
Kentucky 797 618 86.117 13.081 0.1518979992
Louisiana 555 256 40.891 5.473 0.1338436331
Maine 426 300
41.620
5.486
0.131811629
Maryland 408 202 40.003 7.712 0.1927855411
Massachusetts 407
339
65.842 11.644
0.1768476049
Michigan 858 755 107.539
15.399 0.143194562
Minnesota 768 574 74.210 16.600 0.2236895297
Mississippi 756 498 64.418 8.052 0.1249961191
Missouri 862 587 76.915
10.611 0.1379574855
Montana 279 232 36.531 7.330 0.2006515015
Nebraska 485 201 23.130 4.443 0.1920881971
Nevada 159 27 6.640
1.530
0.2304216867
New
Hampshire
255 143 18.716
3.219
0.1719918786
New Jersey
1037
609
93.805
13.266
0.141421033
New Mexico
337
99
14.804
1.367
0.092339908
New York
1880
1238
162.786
22.664
0.1392257319
North 1407 721
112.471
20.032
0.1781081345
ȱȱȱ
ŗŚȱ

ȱȱȱǱȱȱȱȱ ȱȱ
ȱ
Number of
Federal funds Federal funds
fire/EMS
Number of
requested
awarded
Funds awarded as a
State
departmentsa applications ($millions)
($millions) % of funds requested
Carolina
North Dakota
322
163
20.217
3.100
0.1533363011
Ohio 1332 984
160.235
26.433
0.1649639592
Oklahoma 772 478 59.814 7.221 0.1207242452
Oregon 358 202 31.343 5.943
0.1896117155
Pennsylvania 2624
2031 299.338 43.611 0.1456914926
Rhode Island
98
71
13.980
0.855
0.061158798
South
Carolina
591 381 53.721
10.471
0.1949144655
South Dakota
345
172
19.604
2.474
0.126198735
Tennessee 642 634 84.878 12.955 0.1526308348
Texas 1873 826
128.511
17.691
0.1376613675
Utah 219
123
18.785
3.378
0.1798243279
Vermont 254 115 17.402 1.820 0.1045856798
Virginia 810 318 56.800
10.403
0.1831514085
Washington 538
359 74.687 12.951 0.1734036713
West Virginia
476
299
48.579
7.069
0.145515552
Wisconsin 898 746 103.653 19.439 0.1875391933
Wyoming 134 45 8.843 1.645 0.1860228429
Puerto Rico
Not available
109
7.420
0.019
0.00256065
Northern
Marianas
Not available
1
0.204
0
0
Guam Not
available
1
0.451 0
0
Total 31,822 20,731
3100.309
494.108

15.94%
Source: Department of Homeland Security. FY2007 awards data not final, current as of 8/6/2008.
a. Data from http://firehouse.com, updated January 2008.

ȱȱȱ

Lennard G. Kruger

Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
lkruger@crs.loc.gov, 7-7070

ȱȱȱ
ŗśȱ