WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Jamie B. Raskin, David Trone, and Andy Harris (all Md.) announced $1,399,058.69 in federal funding for Maryland firefighters and first responders in Garrett and Carroll Counties. The funding will directly bolster fire departments, State Fire Training Academies, and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations to enhance their response capabilities and ability to protect the health and safety of the public – as well as first-responders.

“Maryland firefighters and first responders are on the front lines every single day, putting themselves at risk to keep Marylanders safe. This federal funding will help equip our local fire departments with the tools they need to accomplish their mission and provide critical services in Garrett and Carroll Counties,” said the lawmakers.

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

• $797,227.27 for the Carroll County Department of Fire and Emergency Services for portable and mobile radios 
• $428,571.42 for the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Co Inc. to replace a 40-year-old tanker
• $173,260.00 for the Gorman Volunteer Fire Department to replace Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (“SCBA”)

Funding is from the Department of Homeland Security's FY2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration