Press Releases

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett Announces Grants to Funkstown Volunteer Fire Company of $226,094 and to Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department of $139,650

Washington, Feb 28, 2007 -

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-6-MD) today announced that a volunteer fire company and a volunteer fire department in Washington County will each receive federal grants. The Funkstown Volunteer Fire Company will receive a federal grant of $226,094. The Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department in Hagerstown will receive a federal grant of $139,650.

Congressman Bartlett said, “Both federal grants to Washington County volunteer fire departments are part of the federal government’s effort to strengthen the Nation’s ability to respond to fire and fire related hazards and to improve the nation’s overall level of preparedness. The Funkstown Volunteer Fire Company and Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department deserve our congratulations because this is a highly competitive program. Firefighters give their time and energy and put their lives in harm’s way to protect us. A man-made or natural disaster in our Nation’s Capitol might call upon First Responders from the entire region. Most of the fire companies in western Maryland are staffed by volunteer firefighters.”

Both of these grants are from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Grants and Training in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration under the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. The purpose of the AFG program is to award grants directly to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations.