Congress appropriates $100 million to support local fire departments

The long-awaited appropriation of the FIRE Act's new federal grant program for the nation's fire departments was passed by Congress in December, freeing $100 million in federal funds for local fire and emergency services agencies. The appropriations will be available for FY 2001, which began on October 1, 2000, and must be spent by September 30, 2001.

The grants will be administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, who will appoint a special office to manage grant dispersement.

Ken Burris, chief operating officer of the U.S. Fire Administration, who has backed the bill from its inception, expects that FEMA will require a couple of months to set up the office to administer the program, and that program grants will be advertised in the Federal Register for 30 to 60 days.

The legislation will require that departments follow certain guidelines in applying for grants. Departments will be required to demonstrate financial need, as well as a cost-benefit analyis showing how the funds used will benefit public safety.

All of the nation’s estimated 32,000 volunteer, paid and combination departments will qualify for the grants, but it will be a competitive process. The departments that put together the strongest grant application package will stand a better chance of winning grants.