NEEDA - National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association

The international trade fair for rescue services, fire prevention, disaster relief, safety and security will be combined with the international exhibit for police and internal security at INTERSCHUTZ/INTERPOLICE June 6-11, 2005 in Hannover Germany.

There will be 1,096 exhibitors, 127,000 attendees for the 786 thousand square foot trade show. There will be a US pavilian sponsored by US manufacturer associations FEMSA and FAMA.

MORE INFO? Rita Dommermuth 609 987 1202 or rdommermuth@hfusa.com.

FIRE DEPARTMENTS APPLY FOR FIRE ACT MATCHING GRANTS: APPLY MARCH 1 UNTIL APRIL 2, 04
Originally Posted: February 27, 2004 3:20 PM
Last Updated: February 27, 2004 3:20 PM

A former Justice Department unit will administer the Fire Act matching grant applications from fire departments in 2004. Fire departments must apply anytime in March 2004, but no later than April 2.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's new Office for Domestic Preparedness. The Office of Domestic Preparedness already administers grant program for police departments.

One major change for 2004: Emergency medical services activities, however, are not an independent program area for the 2004 program year. Rather, EMS activities have been incorporated into the appropriate activities under the Operations and Firefighter Safety Program.

In 2004 all fire departments must obtain a DUNS number, (a unique nine-character identification number provided by the commercial company Dun & Bradstreet). The Federal government will use the DUNS number to better identify related organizations that are receiving funding under grants and cooperative agreements and to provide consistent name and address data for electronic grant applications.

The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2004 provided $750 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and transferred administration of the program from FEMA to ODP.

Click the title of this news story or use the MORE INFO? below. Use "Search" in the upper right hand of your screen to find past NEEDA news about the Fire Act grant program.

MORE INFO? www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp

FIRE ACT MATCHING GRANTS HAVE REACHED 8100 FIRE DEPARTMENTS WITH $651
Originally Posted: February 3, 2004 10:18 PM
Last Updated: February 3, 2004 10:18 PM

Fire departments in 216 communities have received fiscal year 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) funding. Since June of 2003, over 8100 fire departments have received $651 million.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments
throughout the United States. These funds are used by the nations firefighters to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, emergency medical service programs, and fire prevention and safety programs.

FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION SAYS FIRST RESPONDERS NEED MORE HELP FROM BUSH ADMINISTRATIONThe
Originally Posted: February 3, 2004 10:05 PM
Last Updated: February 3, 2004 10:05 PM

"With the severe cuts made by the Administration to great programs that help make our country safer, we ask the President to please explain to the American people why he is leaving them more vulnerable to incidents ranging from the threats of terrorism to standard emergencies," said Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters. "The fact remains that firefighters around the U.S. often lack the training, equipment and staffing to adequately respond to calls to save lives and property." In the President's budget, funding for the FIRE Act, the popular grant program that helps fire departments fund equipment needs, was cut by 50 percent. The proposal reduced the appropriation from $750 million to $500 million. The Administration also designated many useful Fire Act programs for elimination in its request, including initiatives for EMS, wellness/fitness, fire code enforcement, station renovation, and education. In addition, state and local programs for homeland security purposes were reduced $200 million, from $3.3 to $3.1 billion.

With such significant concerns over the lack of White House support of America's over-stretched first responders, the International Association of Fire Fighters have endorsed Senator John Kerry for President. Sen. Kerry was selected by the IAFF after an extensive polling process of its members.

The International Association of Fire Fighters headquartered in Washington, DC, is the 16th largest union out of the 64 national unions that make-up the AFL-CIO, representing 263,000 full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect 80 percent of the nation's population.