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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, August 23, 2005
CONTACT: Al Christie, State Fire Marshal, 605.773.3562
South Dakota receives nearly $1.8 million to assist local fire departments
PIERRE, S.D. – In March 2005, the South Dakota Fire Marshal’s Office announced that South Dakota fire departments and non-fire related emergency medical service organizations should apply for Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP).
Today, the South Dakota Department of Public Safety announced that South Dakota will receive $1,773,636 in the first round of the Fiscal Year 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grants.
This first round of grants will help local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations purchase or receive training, first responder health and safety programs, equipment and response vehicles.
“South Dakota has received more than $15.7 million since the program began in 2001,” said state Fire Marshal Al Christie. “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program helps South Dakota’s rural and urban fire departments and ambulance services increase our firefighting effectiveness and emergency response operations. Local first responders now have an opportunity to improve their health and safety programs by purchasing personal protective equipment, emergency response vehicles, communication equipment and fire prevention resources,” Christie said.
The AFGP is awarded directly to the local communities and includes grants to the fire departments and emergency medical services organization in:
Department For Amount City
Harrisburg Community Fire Department | Vehicle Acquisition | $19,000.00 | Harrisburg |
Canistota Fire and Rescue | Vehicle Acquisition | $51,775.00 | Canistota |
Florence Volunteer Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $73,953.00 | Florence |
Springfield Rural Fire Department | Vehicle Acquisition | $142,500.00 | Springfield |
Presho Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $14,725.00 | Presho |
Miner County Ambulance | Operations and Safety | $7,030.00 | Howard |
Martin Volunteer Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $53,865.00 | Martin |
Vermillion Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $22,059.00 | Vermillion |
Watertown Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $29,700.00 | Watertown |
Keystone Volunteer Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $31,806.00 | Keystone |
Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. | Operations and Safety | $42,750.00 | Wessington Springs |
Roslyn Volunteer Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $79,445.00 | Roslyn |
Gayville Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $34,200.00 | Gayville |
McIntosh Volunteer Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $32,300.00 | McIntosh |
Hayti Community Volunteer Fire Dept. | Vehicle Acquisition | $30,875.00 | Hayti |
Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department | Vehicle Acquisition | $94,335.00 | Lebanon |
Crooks Fire and Rescue | Vehicle Acquisition | $85,024.00 | Crooks |
Clark County Ambulance | Operations and Safety | $46,522.00 | Clark |
Parker Volunteer Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $77,500.00 | Parker |
Colman Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department | Vehicle Acquisition | $125,163.00 | Colman |
Philip Volunteer Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $37,602.00 | Philip |
Huron Rural Community Firetruck Association | Operations and Safety | $44,830.00 | Huron |
Nemo Volunteer Fire Department | Vehicle Acquisition | $188,100.00 | Nemo |
Tyndall City Ambulance Service | Vehicle Acquisition | $95,000.00 | Tyndall |
Mellette County Ambulance | Vehicle Acquisition | $76,000.00 | White river |
Selby Volunteer Fire Department | Vehicle Acquisition | $171,000.00 | Selby |
Hecla Volunteer Firefighters | Operations and Safety | $9,500.00 | Hecla |
Orient Volunteer Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $22,112.00 | Orient |
Batesland Volunteer Fire Department | Operations and Safety | $34,965.00 | Batesland |
The AFGP is administered by the United State’s Department of Homeland Security’s Office for State and Local Government Coordination & Preparedness in cooperation with the Department's United States Fire Administration.
Visit http://www.firegrantsupport.com/ for more information about the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.
South Dakota Department of Public Safety’s mission is to keep South Dakota a safe place to live, work, visit and raise a family. Visit www.state.sd.us/dps for more information about the department and its agencies.
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