WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and
Representatives Elijah E. Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (all
D-Md.) announced $298,345 in federal funding for the Baltimore City Fire
Department (BCFD). The funding, awarded through the Federal Emergency
Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, will be
used to purchase new equipment for the Department and to support their Mobile
Integrated Health/Community Paramedicine pilot program, a partnership between
the BCFD and the University of Maryland Medical Center.

“Every day
Baltimore City’s emergency responders provide life-saving services to residents
across the city. Providing our first responders with the equipment they need is
crucial to their ability to serve and protect our communities. This investment
will go directly to equipping the Baltimore City Fire Department and will help
them continue to achieve their life-saving mission,” said the Members.
“Together, we will keep working to support our first responders and provide
them with the resources they need to keep Marylanders safe.”

Federal funds are
awarded through the AFG program, which provides grants directly to fire
departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services organizations, and state
fire training academies to enhance their ability to protect the health and
safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel. The Members
worked to secure $350 million for the AFG program for Fiscal Year 2019 and
continue to work towards robust funding for the program. The Maryland
delegation is announcing over $2 million in funding for first responders
throughout the state from the AFG program. 

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