FEMA Delivers More Than $47 Million to Help Fire Departments and Other First Responder Organizations in the Mid-Atlantic

PHILADELPHIA - This week, FEMA awarded more than $47 million in grant funding for fire departments and other first responder organizations in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. 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: the 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 award additional funds directly to fire departments, first responder agencies, and other organizations focused on fire prevention and firefighter safety.

The funding announced today in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia includes nearly $40 million under FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grants. Recipients 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 $938,000 to Burlington Volunteer Fire Department Inc in Burlington, West Virginia.
• More than $925,000 to Midland Fire Co in Frostburg, Maryland.
• More than $450,000 to Delaware State Fire School in Dover, Delaware.
  

FEMA also awarded more than $5 million under its Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program across Region 3. 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 Borough of Phoenixville in Pennsylvania.
• More than $745,000 to Frederick County in Virginia.
  

FEMA also awarded $1.6 million in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia under its Fire Prevention and Safety grant program. 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:

• More than $559,000 to Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association in Pennsylvania
• More than $497,000 to National Volunteer Fire Council, Inc. in Maryland.
• More than $300,000 to the County of Shenandoah in Virginia.
  

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.

###

FEMA's mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.

Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA's Facebook page or Espanol page, on Truth Social and FEMA's YouTube account.

For preparedness information, follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready.gov, on Instagram @Ready.gov or on the Ready Facebook page.