WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced Friday the fire departments in Rockland and Westbrook will receive a collective total of $34,351 in grant funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG).

The grant funding is for the reimbursement or purchase of emergency medical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and disinfection supplies for COVID-19 response, a news release stated. 

“Maine firefighters risk their lives every day to when they respond to fires and local emergencies and have valiantly continued to show up to work to protect us during the last year of the pandemic,” said Pingree. “As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’ve fought for increased funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program because I know just how important these funds are to keep our first responders and our neighborhoods safe. I’m glad Maine’s community fire departments will be supported in their efforts to keep their staff and neighbors safe.”

The AFG program assists first-responder organizations in obtaining emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, emergency vehicles, and training.

Details of the grants are as follows:

Rockland Fire and EMS: $9,738.10

Westbrook Fire, Rescue Department: $24,612.95