WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, a senior member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, helped advance a bipartisan bill to extend federal grant programs for local fire departments. The bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act would reauthorize two critical programs – the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program and the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program – that are set to expire next year.

“These grant programs provide life-saving equipment and training to fire departments across New Hampshire, and we must ensure that our fire fighters can use these grants for years to come. I was glad to help advance this commonsense extension in committee,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan bill will help New Hampshire fire departments continue to have access to resources that they need to keep themselves and our communities safe, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly pass this critical bill.”

Fire departments use these federal programs to recruit and retain personnel, as well as buy modern vehicles and equipment such as breathing air compressors, hoses, nozzles, and more. Fire stations also utilize the programs to fund safety and technical rescue training, as well as for health screenings for firefighters.

Since 2015, New Hampshire fire departments, state fire training academies, and emergency medical service organizations have received more than $24 million in funding from AFG grants and more than $15 million in funding from SAFER grants. For instance, Senator Hassan helped secure a grant to the Berlin Fire Department in 2022 to replace its fire engine that had been in service since 1979. Senator Hassan successfully worked to increase funding for the AFG and SAFER programs in the American Rescue Plan that was passed into law.

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