Who is eligible to apply? 

• Fire departments (career, volunteer, and combination)

• Regional Projects (benefiting multiple departments): Training, equipment, personal protective equipment 

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This is to re-state FEMA's current policy that AFG applicants are NOT required to be in compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) either to apply for AFG funding or to successfully receive an AFG award.

The AFG application contains a question that asks whether the applicant organization is currently in compliance with NIMS because compliance is required of all Federal grantees. However, the fact that an applicant may not yet be in compliance with NIMS at the time of application does not mean that the applicant is ineligible, nor will it impact the applicant's chances of being awarded.

Any department that receives a FY 2012 award will have until the end of that grant's period of performance to achieve the necessary NIMS compliance level.
Applicants that need NIMS training may request funding for training through the Training Activity in the AFG Operations and Safety Grant application. However, many online NIMS training courses are available free of charge through the Emergency Management Institute.

Additional detailed information on NIMS can be obtained from the NIMS Resource Center on the FEMA website.

AFG Help Desk Support: If you have questions about the FY 2012 AFG application and NIMS, call the AFG Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960, or send an e-mail to firegrants@fema.dhs.gov. 

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On Thursday, June 7th, the House approved H.R. 5855, the Fiscal Year 2013 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, by a vote of 234-182. The bill funds the programs and activities of the Department of Homeland Security through September 30, 2013.

The bill, as originally introduced, made a slight cut to the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE) Grant Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program. Initially the measure allocated $5 million less than the Fiscal Year 2012 level of $675 million (split equally between the two programs). An amendment to restore the programs to the FY12 level was offered by Congressman Jon Runyan (NJ-3) and Congressman Larry Kissell (NC-8) and approved by the House by voice vote on Wednesday, June 6th. The Senate version of the FY13 spending bill, S. 3216, also funds FIRE and SAFER at the FY12 level.

Also on Wednesday, the House approved another amendment by voice vote offered by Congressman Michael Grimm (NY-13) and Congressman Gerald Connolly (VA-11) to restore a portion of the funding cut from the Urban Search and Rescue Response System (US&R). The bill originally allocated $27,513,000 for this critical program (in FY12, the program was funded at $41,250,000). The Grimm/Connolly amendment increased funding to $35,180,000, the same amount contained in the Senate bill.

Unfortunately, H.R. 5855 funds the United States Fire Administration (USFA) at $42,460,000, a reduction of $1.578 million below the FY12 level of $44,038,000. The Senate bill funds USFA at $44,020,000, nearly the same level as the current fiscal year.

The Senate is expected to address the spending bill later this summer. CFSI will continue to provide updates throughout the Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations process.

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Name: Donald L. Suggs
Rank: Assistant Chief
Age: 55
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 21

Date of Incident: 06/10/12
Time of Incident: 2100hrs
Date of Death: 06/11/12

Fire Department: Summerville Fire and Rescue Department
Address: 111 East Harnett ST, Lillington, NC 27546
Fire Department Chief: Melvin R. Yow

Incident Description: Sunday, June 10, 2012, at approximately 1100hrs, Assistant Chief Suggs had responded to an emergency call. After returning home, he collapsed at about 2100hrs that evening. He was taken to the hospital where he passed away on Monday, June 11, 2012, at approximately 0100hrs from an apparent heart attack. An autopsy is being performed to determine the exact cause of death.

Incident Location: N/A

Funeral Arrangements: Visitation, Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 1800-2000hrs, O'Quinn Peebles Funeral Home, 1310 South Main ST, Lillington, NC. Funeral: Thursday, June 14, 2012, 1100hrs, Lillington Baptist Church, 210 West Lofton ST, Lillington, NC.

Tribute is being paid to Assistant Chief Suggs at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ 

____________________________ 

Name: Anthony Polk
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Status: Wildland

Years of Service: Pending
Date of Incident: 06/08/2012
Time of Incident: Pending
Date of Death: 06/08/2012

Fire Department: Bureau of Indian Affairs - Fort Yuma Agency
Address: P.O. Box 11000, Yuma, AZ 85366-1000
Fire Department Chief: Acting Assistant Secretary Donald Laverdure

Incident Description: Firefighter Polk died as a result of a single fire apparatus accident that occurred while he and two other firefighters were responding to the scene of the Montezuma Fire south of Tucson, AZ.

Incident Location: Route 19 near milepost 22.

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Anthony Polk at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ 

____________________________

Name: Todd Tompkins
Rank: Captain
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Status: Wildland Contract
Date of Incident: 06/03/2012
Time of Incident: 1400hrs
Date of Death: 06/03/2012

Name: Ronnie Chambless
Rank: First Officer
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Status: Wildland Contract
Date of Incident: 06/03/2012
Time of Incident: 1400hrs
Date of Death: 06/03/2012

Fire Department: Neptune Aviation Services, Inc.
Address: 1 Corporate Way, Missoula, Montana 59808
Fire Department Chief: Chief Executive Officer Kristen Nicolarsen

Incident Description: Captain Todd Tompkins and First Officer Ronnie Chambless passed away while fighting the 5,000-acre White Rock Fire which was sparked by lightning in eastern Nevada. On the second run of the day in their model P2V Lockheed Martin aircraft, Captain Tompkins and First Officer Chambless were nearing the wildfire when they crashed in the Hamlin Valley area of Iron County, Utah, near the Utah-Nevada border. It was estimated that the aircraft held approximately 1,600 gallons of fuel and 2,000 gallons of fire retardant. It was reported that the NTSB, FAA, and U.S. Forest Service officials are responding to the crash for investigation.

Incident Location: Hamlin Valley area of Iron County, Utah

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Captain Todd Tompkins and First Officer Ronnie Chambless at
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/  

To date, 38 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm