Grant to Fund Training, Equipment to Improve Safety in Traffic
FREDERICK, Md. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced it is awarding Frederick County’s Division of Fire & Rescue Services over $392,000 to improve the safety of first responders along roadways. Most of the funds will be used to train 1,100 career and volunteer personnel. The award also will pay for highly reflective signs and cones that can be used to alert drivers as they approach an incident.
“Our first responders put their lives on the line every time they show up at a scene. This training is about protecting those who protect us,” Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater said. “I am grateful to our Federal delegation, Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman David Trone, for their support, which helped us to secure this funding.”
“Firefighters and first responders deliver life-saving services in all types of emergencies and need to be prepared in any environment. This funding will better train and equip Frederick’s emergency services personnel and help extend and strengthen their critical public safety work,” said Senator Cardin.
“Frederick County’s firefighters work tirelessly, putting their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. This federal funding will help ensure they have the training and the resources they need to respond to roadway emergencies while protecting themselves and the public,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I was proud to help secure this funding through our annual appropriations process, advancing our communities’ safety and equipping our emergency personnel with the skills and tools necessary to protect Marylanders,” said Congressman David Trone. “It’s a direct investment in our first responders and the security of every resident, and Team Maryland is getting the job done.”
Frederick County’s $392,828.59 award is made through FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. It will allow firefighters, medics, and officers to be trained on how to safely and quickly clear traffic incidents. The Division of Fire & Rescue Services also plans to conduct exercises to make sure all first responders meet the National Fire Protection Association’s standards for Traffic Incident Management Professional Qualifications.
“Receiving this grant is a significant milestone for our department and a tremendous enhancement to our efforts on the road,” said Frederick County Fire Chief Tom Coe, Director of the Division of Fire & Rescue Services. “With these new resources, including advanced training and critical equipment, we are better equipped to ensure the safety and efficiency of our first responders as they face the challenges on highways and roadways. This support not only advances our operational readiness but also underscores the commitment to the well-being of our community and the safety of our heroes on the front lines.”
The Assistance to Firefighters Grants are funded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget. Lawmakers fought to increase/maintain funding for the budget within the FY 2023 appropriations process. Senators Van Hollen and Cardin and Congressman Trone worked to reauthorize the AFG program through FY2028 within the Fire Grants and Safety Act of 2023, which passed Congress and was signed into law earlier this year.
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Contact: Vivian Laxton, Director
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