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WASHINGTON -- Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded seven grants totaling $449,485 to Iowa through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line every day for the good of the community,” Grassley said. “It’s important that those firefighters have the necessary equipment and training to keep the community safe.”

The communities received funds through the Operations and Safety Program and the Vehicle Acquisition Program. The Operations and Safety Program helps provide fire departments with training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities. The Vehicle Acquisition Program helps provide fire departments with vehicles such as pumpers, brush trucks, tankers, rescue, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units and fireboats.

FEMA distributed the funds as shown below.

• Burlington Fire Department received $149,216 through the Operations and Safety Program.
• Grand Mound Volunteer Fire Company received $17,385 through the Operations and Safety Program.
• Jamaica Fire Department received $15,200 through the Operations and Safety Program.
• Volunteer Fire Company in Mapleton received $28,830 through the Operations and Safety Program.
• Orange City Fire Department received $156,275 through the Vehicle Acquisition Program.
• Walker Fire Department received $44,579 through the Operations and Safety Program.
• Washington Fire Department received $38,000 through the Operations and Safety Program.

This funding is part of round 17 of the fiscal 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Awards. The federal program distributes funds to local fire departments to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, and to establish or expand fire prevention programs.