WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) announced that the City of Montgomery Fire Department has been awarded a $3,010,000 grant under the Fiscal Year 2012 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program. These awards are administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency along with the U.S. Fire Administration.

"I am pleased that the Montgomery Fire Department will receive $3,010,000 in funding to retain and hire firefighters. This grant will provide the resources to allow firefighters in the City of Montgomery to continue protecting our communities. I was delighted to send a letter of support to the Fire Administration in support of the Montgomery Fire Department's application and am happy that they will receive this critically important funding," said Rep. Terri Sewell.

The SAFER program is a funding initiative designed to strengthen the nation’s ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards and improve the nation’s overall level of preparedness. This program awards grants directly to volunteer, combination and career fire departments to help the departments increase the number of frontline firefighters and to rehire firefighters who were laid-off due to the economy.

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Contact: Rob NeSmith;      rob.nesmith@mail.house.gov;       202.225.2665