Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $1.5 Million for National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in Emmitsburg

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $1.5 million in federal funds for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) in Emmitsburg through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Prevention & Safety Grants program. The NFFF will use this funding to support a study on firefighter safety.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line every day, and they deserve not only our respect, but our support. This grant will fund important research and firefighter safety initiatives at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to help us understand how to better protect these men and women as they risk their lives to protect our communities,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committees. “I will continue working to support first responders across our state and our country.”

“Our firefighters put themselves at risk every day. We should be doing everything that we can to keep them safe, and an important aspect of that is research,” said Senator Cardin. “The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, located in our home state of Maryland, is a dedicated federal partner in this important cause. I will continue to advocate for federal support.”

“It is our duty to protect our firefighters, who put themselves in danger to keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Trone. “With this funding, we can better understand firefighter safety, prevent injuries, and honor the memories of our fallen heroes. I will continue to support Maryland firefighters in Congress.”

Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in 1992 to lead a nationwide effort to remember America’s fallen firefighters. Several federal grants support its different activities. Its mission is to honor and remember America’s fallen fire heroes, to provide resources to assist their families in rebuilding their lives, and to reduce firefighter deaths and injuries.

The Fire Prevention and Safety Grants are a part of the larger Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. FP&S projects are designed to reach high-risk target groups and reduce the incidence of death, injuries, and property damage caused by fire and fire-related hazards. The funds may be used for community risk reduction, code enforcement/awareness, fire and arson investigation, and national/state/regional programs and studies. In 2005, Congress reauthorized funding for FP&S and expanded the eligible uses of funds to include Firefighter Safety Research and Development.

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