FEMA Delivers Nearly $20 Million to Help Fire Departments and First Responders in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas

DENTON, Texas - This week, FEMA awarded nearly $20 million in grant funding for fire departments and other first responder organizations in the FEMA Region 6 states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

FEMA disburses this money to support firefighters and other emergency personnel because they are often the first ones on the scene when disaster strikes. They play an essential role in keeping American communities safe. By empowering these emergency responders to strengthen and expand their capacity, FEMA is contributing to the nation's overall resilience.

FEMA is administering these funds through its three Fiscal Year 2025 fire grant programs: Assistance to Firefighters Grants; Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program; and Fire Prevention and Safety grant program. FEMA published the funding opportunities in May 2026, making $648 million available across all three programs. Over the next week, FEMA will continue awarding these funds directly to fire departments, first responder agencies and other organizations focused on fire prevention and firefighter safety.

FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grants

This funding includes more than $14.6 million under FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grants. Recipients in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas can use this money to outfit responders with compliant personal protective equipment, acquire emergency response vehicles and develop health, wellness and resiliency initiatives to prepare responders for incidents. Examples of awards include:

• More than $515,000 to the Lake Hamilton Fire Protection District in Hot Springs, Arkansas
• More than $287,000 to the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service in College Station, Texas
• More than $88,000 to the Chimney Rock Volunteer Fire Department Corporation in Rose, Oklahoma
• More than $56,000 to the Church Point Volunteer Fire Department in Church Point, Louisiana

Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response

FEMA also awarded more than $3 million to organizations in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas under its Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program. Recipients can use the money to cover personnel costs for firefighters, as well as recruitment efforts and retention programs. Examples of awards include:

• More than $974,000 to the city of Jenks, Oklahoma
• Nearly $859,000 to Caddo Fire District No. 1 in Shreveport, Louisiana
• More than $419,000 to the city of Mount Vernon, Texas

Fire Prevention and Safety

FEMA also awarded more than $1.8 million under its Fire Prevention and Safety grant program to programs in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Recipients can use the money to fund scientific research and technology development that will strengthen community fire prevention programs and/or improve firefighter safety, health and well-being. Examples of awards include:

• $750,000 to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma
• More than $109,000 to the El Paso Fire Department in El Paso, Texas
• More than $21,000 to Fire District 7 in Chauvin, Louisiana

FEMA will continue awarding funding for its Fiscal Year 2025 fire grant programs over the next week. For information on all the awards issued thus far, visit the fire grants programs webpages: Assistance to Firefighters Grants, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, and Fire Prevention and Safety.

About FEMA Region 6

The FEMA Region 6 office, located in Denton, Texas, partners with 68 Tribal Nations and the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Follow us at x.com/FEMARegion6 and at linkedin.com/showcase/fema-region-6/ and like us at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/