The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has announced $648 million in new grant funding to strengthen firefighting and emergency response capacity across the country.
The funding supports three major programmes—the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), and Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S)—which together provide financial assistance to fire departments, emergency medical services (EMS), and related organisations.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grants programme allocates $291.6 million to help agencies purchase essential equipment such as personal protective gear, emergency response vehicles, and other operational tools. It also supports responder wellness initiatives aimed at improving safety and readiness.
The SAFER programme provides $324 million to help fire departments hire, train, and retain firefighters, including support for recruitment and staffing stability, particularly in volunteer and understaffed departments.
The FP&S programme allocates $32.4 million for fire prevention initiatives, safety research, and health-related studies focused on improving firefighter wellbeing and reducing community fire risks.
According to FEMA, the funding is intended to help local governments and emergency agencies maintain workforce capacity, improve preparedness, and enhance overall emergency response systems. Counties, fire departments, and EMS organisations can apply through Grants.gov, with the application window open from May 19 to June 22, 2026.
Officials say the programmes remain critical for sustaining frontline emergency services, particularly as agencies face increasing operational demands and workforce challenges across the United States.
