The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides resources to improve safety of firefighters.

I believe the Sun Journal editorial writer’s opinion criticizing firefighting resources awarded to rural communities may have been based on a misunderstanding of an extremely important and successful program. The editorial accuses that “The federal government has used homeland security resources to prop up local fire departments.” The editorial (Aug. 22) suggests that recent grants awarded to such towns as Clinton, Sorrento and Kingfield are not worthy of “homeland security funding.”

The aforementioned communities have just been notified of their grant awards for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which was started in 2001 and was administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, most commonly known as FEMA. It has passed through the Department of Health and Human Services and now is administered by the Department of Homeland Security and the Office for Domestic Preparedness.

The AFG program’s original purpose was to provide resources to communities to improve firefighting capabilities and improve the safety of firefighters and our citizens. The grants are based on financial need and the benefits that would result from a grant award. According to the FEMA/USFA Program Guidance for the 2003 AFG program, the applicant must demonstrate how “the grant award will (1) fit in with a regional approach, i.e., is consistent with current capabilities and requests of neighboring fire departments or otherwise benefits other fire departments in the region; (2) promote interoperability of equipment/technology with other fire departments and local, state and federal first responders; and (3) allow the fire department to respond to all hazards.”

The program also prioritizes grant requests to ensure that the program will have the greatest effect on reducing firefighter injuries and deaths.

Several rural Maine communities have received funds to purchase tankers that will replace refurbished fuel oil delivery trucks that are not designed to carry a much heavier load of water. The National Fire Protection Association recommends taking trucks older than 1979 out of service. The town of Livermore and the Livermore Fire Department have been very fortunate to receive funds in 2003 and 2004. Our grants have enabled us to replace breathing apparatus and protective clothing. The grants improve our ability to work with and support our mutual aid partners across town and county lines. Through our Androscoggin County Mutual Aid agreement, we would even travel to the big cities of Lewiston and Auburn to support our colleagues if they call.

Perhaps Lewiston-Auburn should consider their ability to respond to newer and larger chemical and manufacturing facilities before the economic development people spend all the state and federal monies they can get their hands on and commit the tax incentives that might be needed to support a viable hazmat team.

I would also like to add that our entire Maine congressional delegation has done a tremendous job in supporting first responders throughout the country. In my opinion, Maine has been a high receiver of federal funds because we have done so much with so little for so long. By the end of this year, our town will retire its fourth fire truck in three years. A 1981 that we bought used will join our 1961, 1967 and 1971 in a well-deserved retirement. We will have fewer trucks, and we will work more closely with our neighbors, and our firefighters should not have to worry about the truck starting, the brakes failing and the pump working.

Randall Berry is the fire chief in Livermore.